Rain Without Thunder
Encyclopedia
Rain Without Thunder is a 1992 movie directed by Gary Bennet and starring Betty Buckley
and Jeff Daniels
. The film is set fifty years in the future from the time of production. Although the Planned Parenthood v. Casey
case is never mentioned by name, the decision took place in the same year as the film was made and many characteristics of the society portrayed are clearly a reaction to the growing possibilities of restricting abortion rights at the time of production. The movie is presented as a documentary about the Goldring case, a mother and daughter imprisoned at the Walker Point Center for seeking an abortion outside of the United States. Although Beverly (Betty Buckley
) and Allison (Ali Thomas) are the main focus, the journalist (Carolyn McCormick
) also interviews numerous people with varying viewpoints discussing the ramifications of the Goldring case and abortion in general in 2042 society.
Allison Goldring, a upper-class, white college student, becomes pregnant with her boyfriend Jeremy Tanner (Steve Zahn
). After discussing her options with both Tanner and her family, she makes the decision to travel abroad to terminate the pregnancy (p-term is the slang used), as abortion is considered murder in the United States. According to Allison and Beverley, everyone including Tanner supported her decision. Tanner later denies this, though the film makes his denial seem improbable. Allison's father and grandmother are interviewed and openly support both Allison and Beverly. Her father even says that he had intended to travel to Sweden with their two younger daughters as a vacation to disguise the purpose of the trip.
Unfortunately the state of New York has recently passed a law that classifies going abroad to seek a termination as "fetal kidnapping." Beverly admits to being aware of the change but assumed it would be some time before it would be enforced. It is not clear how aware Allison and Jeremy were of the legal change. The law, it transpires, is a reaction to a lawsuit aimed at overturning fetal murder statues because they are enforced almost exclusively against poor minority women. Examples of such women are interviewed at Walker Point (Ming-Na
and Bahni Turpin). One had used some abortifacient
called a "baby bomb." She was arrested as she bled out after improperly administering the drug. The other was arrested on suspicion of having a termination, which she hadn't, but did have an IUD, which is also illegal. Her descriptions of how she obtained the "uudee" suggest that she was also in a potentially dangerous medical situation.
African American district attorney Andrea Murdoch (Iona Morris
) discovers what the Goldrings have done and prosecutes them under the new law, in large part because they are exactly the type of women targeted by the law. The criminal procedures show that doctor-patient confidentiality is no longer guaranteed. Murdoch's motivations are questioned by Jonathan Garson (Jeff Daniels
), the Goldrings' attorney, who suggests she is seeking some higher office, although he doesn't question her ethics. Murdoch's own statements suggest that she is angered by the racial and class disparities in enforcement, but that she does not question the propriety of fetal murder law.
During the trial, Allison decides to take the stand and confesses to what she did. She does not express remorse at the time nor does she express any regret later. She says that she felt relieved to get everything out. Beverly and Garson are frustrated by her decision, since it condemn both Allison and Beverly to prison. At the end of the film, the Swedish clinic checks their pathology reports on Allison and determines that the fetus had been dead for almost three weeks prior to the procedure. The Goldrings are released, but Murdoch declares her intention to prosecute them on attempted fetal kidnapping, on the grounds that they had intended to commit the crime even if they had not be able to commit it.
By 2042 feminism is virtually gone from the public consciousness. One character, a historian, declares that no woman's political movement has ever existed. The two characters who most closely match modern feminist thought are clearly suffering from dementia, one because of age and probably stress, the second because of implied psychiatric abuse. Linda Hunt
plays a more moderate character, the head of the Atwood Society (presumably a reference to author Margaret Atwood
and her dystopic novel A Handmaid's Tale). Hunt's character repudiates the idea of universal abortion but is campaigning to protect women from fetal murder prosecution. She even describes having pregnant women declared legally incompetent and thus incapable of criminal intent. She admits this is a fiction but claims laws are often built on such fiction. The fact that a 2042 moderate or liberal activist in 2042 would campaign to have women declared mentally unfit to make decisions about their reproductive health is an ironic demonstration of how far attitudes have shifted by 2042.
The interviews take place indoors in offices, prisons, and homes. There is little indication of technological progress beyond hints at faster air travel (the trip to Sweden is said to take two hours) and improved neo-natal procedures (fetuses are said to be able to survive after only four months gestation).
Betty Buckley
Betty Lynn Buckley is an American theater, film and television actress and singer. She is a Tony Award winner and Grammy Award nominee.-Early life:...
and Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels
Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan...
. The film is set fifty years in the future from the time of production. Although the Planned Parenthood v. Casey
Planned Parenthood v. Casey
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in which the constitutionality of several Pennsylvania state regulations regarding abortion were challenged...
case is never mentioned by name, the decision took place in the same year as the film was made and many characteristics of the society portrayed are clearly a reaction to the growing possibilities of restricting abortion rights at the time of production. The movie is presented as a documentary about the Goldring case, a mother and daughter imprisoned at the Walker Point Center for seeking an abortion outside of the United States. Although Beverly (Betty Buckley
Betty Buckley
Betty Lynn Buckley is an American theater, film and television actress and singer. She is a Tony Award winner and Grammy Award nominee.-Early life:...
) and Allison (Ali Thomas) are the main focus, the journalist (Carolyn McCormick
Carolyn McCormick
Carolyn Inez McCormick is an American actress best known for her role as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet on Law & Order franchise.-Life and career:McCormick was born in Midland, Texas to a father who owned an oil drilling company...
) also interviews numerous people with varying viewpoints discussing the ramifications of the Goldring case and abortion in general in 2042 society.
Plot
Note: This plot summary is a linear account of the Goldrings' story. The movie itself does not reveal all plot details in order.Allison Goldring, a upper-class, white college student, becomes pregnant with her boyfriend Jeremy Tanner (Steve Zahn
Steve Zahn
-Early life:Zahn was born in Marshall, Minnesota, the son of Zelda, who worked for the YMCA, and Carleton E. Zahn, a retired Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor. Zahn spent part of his childhood in Mankato, Minnesota, attending Kennedy Elementary School...
). After discussing her options with both Tanner and her family, she makes the decision to travel abroad to terminate the pregnancy (p-term is the slang used), as abortion is considered murder in the United States. According to Allison and Beverley, everyone including Tanner supported her decision. Tanner later denies this, though the film makes his denial seem improbable. Allison's father and grandmother are interviewed and openly support both Allison and Beverly. Her father even says that he had intended to travel to Sweden with their two younger daughters as a vacation to disguise the purpose of the trip.
Unfortunately the state of New York has recently passed a law that classifies going abroad to seek a termination as "fetal kidnapping." Beverly admits to being aware of the change but assumed it would be some time before it would be enforced. It is not clear how aware Allison and Jeremy were of the legal change. The law, it transpires, is a reaction to a lawsuit aimed at overturning fetal murder statues because they are enforced almost exclusively against poor minority women. Examples of such women are interviewed at Walker Point (Ming-Na
Ming-Na
Ming-Na is a Macanese-born American actress. She has been credited with and without her family name, but most credits since the late 1990s have been without it...
and Bahni Turpin). One had used some abortifacient
Abortifacient
An abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion. Abortifacients for animals that have mated undesirably are known as mismating shots....
called a "baby bomb." She was arrested as she bled out after improperly administering the drug. The other was arrested on suspicion of having a termination, which she hadn't, but did have an IUD, which is also illegal. Her descriptions of how she obtained the "uudee" suggest that she was also in a potentially dangerous medical situation.
African American district attorney Andrea Murdoch (Iona Morris
Iona Morris
Iona Marie Morris is daughter to actor Greg Morris and older sister to actor Phil Morris. She is primarily an American voice actress but has also performed numerous times on television in speaking roles. She was the original voice of Storm in the X-Men and Spider-Man animated series...
) discovers what the Goldrings have done and prosecutes them under the new law, in large part because they are exactly the type of women targeted by the law. The criminal procedures show that doctor-patient confidentiality is no longer guaranteed. Murdoch's motivations are questioned by Jonathan Garson (Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels
Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan...
), the Goldrings' attorney, who suggests she is seeking some higher office, although he doesn't question her ethics. Murdoch's own statements suggest that she is angered by the racial and class disparities in enforcement, but that she does not question the propriety of fetal murder law.
During the trial, Allison decides to take the stand and confesses to what she did. She does not express remorse at the time nor does she express any regret later. She says that she felt relieved to get everything out. Beverly and Garson are frustrated by her decision, since it condemn both Allison and Beverly to prison. At the end of the film, the Swedish clinic checks their pathology reports on Allison and determines that the fetus had been dead for almost three weeks prior to the procedure. The Goldrings are released, but Murdoch declares her intention to prosecute them on attempted fetal kidnapping, on the grounds that they had intended to commit the crime even if they had not be able to commit it.
Society in 2042
The process of making abortion illegal is very gradual at first. Before 2000 or so, only four states had severely restricted abortion. According to several interviewees, the decade between 2000 and 2010 was marked by a very strong reaction against women's rights as well as a significant reduction of legal protections against search and seizure. One interviewee describes how the Supreme Court now allows general search warrants of neighborhoods and apartment buildings, all in reaction to "hypercrime." Two additional developments are cited as furthering pro-life agenda. The Catholic Church accepts barrier contraception, which both a pro-life and pro-choice character suggest, restores the Church's credibility on sexual issues since it is now possible for devout Catholics to prevent pregnancy. A second issue is the demographic squeeze caused by the aging of the population. All this leads to the Twentieth-eighth Amendment, which classifies legally classifies a fetus as a person, and the restriction of abortion to early-term and only in the limited cases of threats to a mother's life and in cases of reported rapes. In both cases there are significant legal hurdles to overcome before the procedure can be performed. Chemical contraception appears to be illegal as well. Andrea Murdoch describes a procedure available in Europe similar to Norplant II (not FDA approved in 1992) but shows an ignorance of how chemical contraception works by calling it a "baby bomb," the same slang term used to describe an abortifacient.By 2042 feminism is virtually gone from the public consciousness. One character, a historian, declares that no woman's political movement has ever existed. The two characters who most closely match modern feminist thought are clearly suffering from dementia, one because of age and probably stress, the second because of implied psychiatric abuse. Linda Hunt
Linda Hunt
Linda Hunt is an American film, stage and television actress. After making her film debut playing Mrs. Oxheart in Popeye , Hunt portrayed Billy Kwan, her breakthrough performance in The Year of Living Dangerously...
plays a more moderate character, the head of the Atwood Society (presumably a reference to author Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. She is among the most-honoured authors of fiction in recent history; she is a winner of the Arthur C...
and her dystopic novel A Handmaid's Tale). Hunt's character repudiates the idea of universal abortion but is campaigning to protect women from fetal murder prosecution. She even describes having pregnant women declared legally incompetent and thus incapable of criminal intent. She admits this is a fiction but claims laws are often built on such fiction. The fact that a 2042 moderate or liberal activist in 2042 would campaign to have women declared mentally unfit to make decisions about their reproductive health is an ironic demonstration of how far attitudes have shifted by 2042.
The interviews take place indoors in offices, prisons, and homes. There is little indication of technological progress beyond hints at faster air travel (the trip to Sweden is said to take two hours) and improved neo-natal procedures (fetuses are said to be able to survive after only four months gestation).
Featured cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Betty Buckley Betty Buckley Betty Lynn Buckley is an American theater, film and television actress and singer. She is a Tony Award winner and Grammy Award nominee.-Early life:... |
Beverly Goldring |
| Katharine Crost | Walker Point Guard #1 |
| Jeff Daniels Jeff Daniels Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan... |
Jonathan Garson |
| Frederic Forrest Frederic Forrest -Life:Forrest was born in Waxahachie, Texas, the son of Virginia Allie and Frederic Fenimore Forrest, a furniture store owner. He is known for his roles as Chef in Apocalypse Now, When The Legends Die, It Lives Again, the neo-Nazi surplus store owner in Falling Down, Right to Kill? and for playing... |
Warden |
| Graham Greene Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world... |
Author on History |
| Linda Hunt Linda Hunt Linda Hunt is an American film, stage and television actress. After making her film debut playing Mrs. Oxheart in Popeye , Hunt portrayed Billy Kwan, her breakthrough performance in The Year of Living Dangerously... |
Atwood Society Director |
| Robert Earl Jones Robert Earl Jones Robert Earl Jones was an American actor. He is best known for his roles in the films The Cotton Club and The Sting and as the father of actor James Earl Jones.-Early life:... |
Old Lawyer |
| Carolyn McCormick Carolyn McCormick Carolyn Inez McCormick is an American actress best known for her role as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet on Law & Order franchise.-Life and career:McCormick was born in Midland, Texas to a father who owned an oil drilling company... |
Reporter |
| Ming-Na Ming-Na Ming-Na is a Macanese-born American actress. She has been credited with and without her family name, but most credits since the late 1990s have been without it... |
'Uudie' Prisoner (as Ming-Na Wen) |
| Iona Morris Iona Morris Iona Marie Morris is daughter to actor Greg Morris and older sister to actor Phil Morris. She is primarily an American voice actress but has also performed numerous times on television in speaking roles. She was the original voice of Storm in the X-Men and Spider-Man animated series... |
Andrea Murdoch |
| Austin Pendleton Austin Pendleton Austin Pendleton is an American film, television, and stage actor, a playwright, and a theatre director and instructor.-Life and career:... |
Catholic Priest |
| Ethan Phillips Ethan Phillips Ethan Phillips is an American actor, playwright and author. He is known for television roles such as Star Trek: Voyager's Neelix and Benson's Pete Downey.-Personal life:... |
Gynecologist |
| Ali Thomas | Allison Goldring |
| Steve Zahn Steve Zahn -Early life:Zahn was born in Marshall, Minnesota, the son of Zelda, who worked for the YMCA, and Carleton E. Zahn, a retired Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor. Zahn spent part of his childhood in Mankato, Minnesota, attending Kennedy Elementary School... |
Jeremy Tanner |
| Heather Lilly | Micka Goldring |