paign, with the help of Liberation Films, has ventured into television. It has produced two video films, You've got to be careful which tackles the tricky area of sex, contraception, and abortion, and A day-care abortion which shows how such an abortion is performed at Professor Huntingford's clinic in Mile End, East London.
The first film is designed to provoke discussion among young people about the consequences of their sexual activity. Three women and one man talk frankly about the choices involved in parenthood.
These interviews in black and white are interspersed with a narrative, (in colour) about a young nurse, Karen, who discovers she is pregnant, cannot contact her boyfriend, Peter, and decides, with the help of her friend, to have an abortion.
Leonora Lloyd, mother of two, explains the dilemma of many women who find themselves pregnant: 'I do love babies but you cannot be selfish'. At 35, pregnant for the third time because the coil had let her down, was not the right time to have a child. 'Life's very just, she plains. 'A lot of women get pregnant when they don't want to and a lot of women can't get pregnant when they do want to.' Jan McKinley, at 16, also decided she didn't want to be pregnant. The interview with her drew out the naivey of young people engaged in their first sexual encounters:
''You're on the pill aren't you?" he said to me. "Yes, of course", I replied not wanting him to think I was not in the know. After that I couldn't go back to him when I got pregnant and admit that I wasn't on the pill!' The interviews were fascinating, but when shown in schools the story of Karen and Peter grabbed the limelight. Why does Peter not contact Karen? Why did Karen, who was a nurse, get pregnant when she should have known about contraception? Is it possible to get pregnant at any age? Was Karen right to reject adoption wich sac repuca to ner friend. Aler nine months I'd love it, I couldn't give it up!' This is what young people wanted to talk about.
The second film is aimed at medical students. Introducing the film, Professor Huntingford explains that most women know after about six or seven weeks if they want to continue with the pregnancy or have a terA day care abortion is a simple way of having an abortion. It can carried out close to the woman's home wnere a counsello. will listen to her reasons for wanting an abortion and enable her to make ner own choice.
Elaine is given a local anaesthetic and the abortion takes place using vacuum extraction. The counsellor stays with the woman at the head of the bed while Professor Huntingford chats to the woman to put her at ease: 'You know I've told you about the bee sting.. Well it comes four times ....and the fourth and last bee sting ...this is the last one of the dilators.
Professol Huntingford remembers Elaine's name and tells her what he is doing throughout the short operation. Comments bv a mar in the audience that Professor Huntingford was too patronising are dismissed by most of the women although they do agree that perhaps the film could have focussed a little more on the counsellor's role Elaine herself gives the impression that she is glad that the Mile End Clinic exists: "I'd never have been able to cope with two children on my own ...I was thinking of leaving my rent for 3 weeks ...I didn't think it was going to be like it was.
Both films help to demystify sex, contraception, and abortion and in doing so show how contro over ter tility allows women to lead freer and happier lives They both cost f22 to buy or £6 to hire. Decide which format you want, VHS or three-quarter inch U-matic and ring Liberation Films on 01-450 7855. Teachers notes are supplied and strips • available for young people for an additional 50p.
The Under Review page would like volunteers to review plays in London. If you are interested ring Socialist Challenge or 01-359 8180.
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