HISTORIC FILM IMPACTS CAMPAIGN VICTORY

By Mabel Pais

“BELLY OF THE BEAST” FILMEXPOSES MODERN DAY ‘EUGENICS’

ON PBS: STREAMING FREE NOW UNTIL JULY 31

DIRECTOR ERIKA COHEN: DOC NYC’S 2019 “40 UNDER 40”

CALIFORNIA: FIRST STATE TO SIGN REPARATIONS FOR ABUSES OF WOMEN IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

#EndEugenicsLegacy

#ItsTime

Blurbs

“To this day, many survivors who were sterilized while in prison still don’t know that their reproductive capacities were stolen from them. With the launch of reparations, we will finally receive justice that we have fought so long for and the healing process can truly begin. It’s time,”said Kelli Dillon, founder of ‘Back to the Basics,’ sterilization survivor, and film participant.

“I’m thrilled “Belly of the Beast” contributed to this historic moment and we will continue to shine a light on our nation’s dark past until these heinous practices are eradicated.” – Erika Cohn, Director-Producer

Hailed by CBS Sunday Morning as one of the best documentaries of 2020 and a 2021 Peabody Awards nominee, the timely and powerful film “Belly of the Beast” exposes human rights abuses of women in the criminal justice system. The film supported and expanded a movement towards reparations – dozens of screenings and advocacy actions were held around California and across the nation.

The film features the Oscar Shortlisted original song “What You’ve Done” from Grammy Winning and Oscar nominated singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige who wrote and performed the song. “I was moved by Erika Cohn’s important documentary ‘Belly of the Beast.’ I immediately knew I wanted to be involved and was inspired to write a song that would amplify the voices of women in prison. ‘See What You’ve Done’ is a testimony, a call to be strong, and an anthem for a movement,” Mary J. Blige told ‘Variety.’

Kelli Dillon, the film’s protagonist, a survivor of domestic and state violence, and community intervention specialist, was humbled by Mary J. Blige’s interest in the film: “I cried when I first listened to the song. When I heard the passion behind her voice, it affirmed my strength, my ability to survive what happened, and fight.”

These injustices are exposed in the award-winning PBS documentary “BELLY OF THE BEAST.” The 2020 feature documentary film “Belly of the Beast” has its streaming re-release on PBS.ORG this week and available for free to the public until July 31. A wider on demand release is planned for later this year.

Watch the trailer till the end – youtu.be/IoD7VgFl9EI

BELLY OF THE BEAST

When an unlikely duo discovers a pattern of illegal sterilizations in women’s prisons, they wage a near impossible battle against the Department of Corrections. Filmed over seven years with extraordinary access and intimate accounts from currently and formerly incarcerated people, the documentary feature “BELLY OF THE BEAST” exposes modern-day eugenics and reproductive injustice in California prisons.

Directed by Emmy and Peabody award-winning filmmaker Erika Cohn (The Judge and In Football We Trust), “BELLY OF THE BEAST” features the original song ‘See What You’ve Done’ written and performed by Mary J. Blige, the nine-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominated singer-songwriter. The song was shortlisted for the Academy Awards for Best Original Song.

The pastoral farmlands surrounding the Central California Women’s Facility, the world’s largest women’s prison, help conceal the reproductive and human rights violations transpiring inside its walls. A courageous woman who was involuntarily sterilized at the facility, teams up with a radical lawyer to stop these violations. They spearhead investigations that uncover a series of statewide crimes, primarily targeting women of color, from inadequate access to healthcare to sexual assault to illegal sterilization. Together, with a team of tenacious heroines, both in and out of prison, they take to the courtroom to fight for reparations. But no one believes them.

As additional damning evidence is uncovered by the Center for Investigative Reporting, a media frenzy and series of hearings provide hope for some semblance of justice. Yet, doctors and prison officials contend that the procedures were in each person’s best interest and of an overall social benefit. Invoking the weight of the historic stain and legacy of eugenics, “BELLY OF THE BEAST” presents a decade long, infuriating contemporary legal drama.

CALIFORNIA SIGNS BILL FOR REPARATIONS

This week, California Governor Newsom signs a bill for landmark reparations for the modern-day eugenics and reproductive injustices in California state prisons. Forced Sterilization survivors are featured in the award-winning PBS documentary “BELLY OF THE BEAST.”

This will make California the first state to both provide notification of coerced sterilization and reparations to survivors who were sterilized while incarcerated in its state women’s prisons and the third state in the nation to provide monetary compensation to survivors who were sterilized under state eugenics laws. The award-winning filmmakers behind the PBS documentary “Belly of the Beast” uncovered nearly 1,400 questionable sterilizations in California prisons during labor or unrelated abdominal surgeries between 1997-2013. The film, released widely in 2020, helped garner nearly 20,000 signatures on a petition to Governor Newsom demanding reparations for California forced sterilization survivors.

Between 1909 and 1979, California sterilized at least 20,000 people under State law — accounting for one third of eugenics sterilizations nationwide. People with disabilities, Latinas, women, and poor people were disproportionately targeted for sterilization. Although the State repealed its eugenics law in 1979, coerced and forced sterilizations continued in State prisons into the 2010’s.

“Lack of government accountability for its eugenic past made possible the contemporary sterilization abuse in California prisons. Reparations for survivors is a giant step toward accountability and ensuring we end eugenic State violence against families of color.” Film participant and attorney Cynthia Chandler, who has led efforts for reparations for imprisoned survivors.

Governor Newson’s budget approves 7.5M funding for the reparations program. The budget request and accompanying bill, AB1007, was authored by California Assembly member Wendy Carrillo. Cynthia, Kelli and the “Belly of the Beast” team are a part of a larger cross-movement coalition for reparations including the AB1007 sponsors, Back to the Basics, California Coalition for Women Prisoners, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice and the Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund.

KEY CREDITS

BELLY OF THE BEAST is directed and produced by Erika Cohn, produced by Angela Tucker, Christen Marquez, Nicole Docta, executive produced by Geralyn Dreyfous, Blye Faust, Mark Lipson, Patty Quillin, Doree Friedman, Diane Philips, Lois Vossen, and Sally Jo Fifer, and music supervised by Tracy McKnight.

To learn more, visit the Official Film Website &social media

bellyofthebeastfilm.com

facebook.com/bellyofthebeastfilm

#EndEugenicsLegacy

#ItsTime

twitter.com/BOTBFilm

instagram.com/bellyofthebeastfilm

(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)