A frank, funny and moving film about four young women’s abortion experiences, told verbatim from real interviews, interweaving song and spoken word.

Interview with Director Lindy Heymann

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

The film deals with challenging themes, but filmed on the 50th anniversary of the legalisation of abortion in Britain, writer Julia Samuels explores the way in which society treats this subject and how this impacts on women today. We wanted to ask what would happen if we started to talk openly about it?

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

The experience of having an abortion is such a taboo in society, and many women feel that they have to keep it a secret. We are pleased to be able to share these stories far and wide and help combat the stigma around something that happens to one in three British women in their lifetimes.

I Told My Mum I Was Going on an RE Trip..

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The film looks at young women and abortion, and it shares a collection of personal stories and experiences. Inspired by writer, Julia Samuels own experience of having an abortion - and her realisation that society expected her to never mention that experience in public. She talked to dozens of people including those who had had abortions, those who chosen to go through with unplanned pregnancies, medical practitioners working in abortion care, doctors who refuse to perform abortions, and campaigners on both sides of the debate. Through this research, she learned that an estimated one in three women in the UK (and a similar number in the U.S.) will have an abortion in their lifetimes. She was fascinated by the normality of this experience, and how society treats it entirely oppositely. So through focusing on these intensely honest, personal stories, the film connects to bigger questions about shame, stigma and women's rights.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

The film uses the theatre technique of recorded delivery, where the actors listen to the real recorded interviews through earphones and repeat the words as they hear them, bringing the audience as close to the truth behind the words as possible. Featuring interviewees from Great Britain and Northern Ireland and beyond, we meet health professionals, women, men and young people on all sides of the debate.

Originally conceived as a theatre piece, by 20 Stories High and Contact, I told my Mum I was going on an R.E. Trip… toured to theatre and community venues across the UK in 2017

Its film journey began shortly after when theatre professionals Julia Samuels and Roxanne Moores joined forces with film director Lindy Heymann to translate the piece to screen.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The film has had really positive feedback. An original version of the film aired on the BBC and we were so pleased with the responses from both the public and the media. We are so excited that it's now being screened at film festivals around the world.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

We were surprised that even some of the right-wing press - which we had imagined might question the piece and its approach - were so positive about it. We had perhaps anticipated a bit more controversy.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

The project was always about trying to have a conversation: to say out loud that this is a very common experience that lots of women go through and to not feel that it needs to be shrouded in stigma and shame. So any chance to talk openly about it is really appreciated and part of what we are trying to do.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

The film was a BBC/Arts Council England commission which was first broadcasted on BBC Two in January 2018 and has since been selected in festivals. We would like distributors, film festival directors and journalists around the film to come on board.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

The film is about trying to have a conversation. It's about saying this is a really common experience, what happens if we reject the taboo and stigma and start talking openly and honestly about it?

Obviously, abortion can be a deeply divisive subject - and we live in a very divided society - but we want to have a progressive and inclusive conversation. At the moment, reproductive rights are significantly under threat globally and of course in the U.S. and so it's more vital than ever that we connect at a human level with something that is usually discussed only theoretically.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

How can we break the taboo and have an honest, public conversation about abortion and people's real experiences of it?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Writer, Julia Samuels is making a play with young people - at her UK-based theatre company 20 Stories High - exploring the theme of touch. And she is also researching a new play/film about Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

Director, Lindy Heymann is producing a documentary film on the seminal British Ska band The Specials, is directing The Worst Witch for BBC/ Netflix and has a feature biopic about missing Manic Street Preacher's guitarist Richey Edwards in pre-production.

Interview: May 2019

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

I Told My Mum I Was Going on an RE Trip...

A frank, funny and moving film about four young women’s abortion experiences, told verbatim from real interviews, interweaving song and spoken word.

Length: 43:00

Director: Lindy Heymann

Producer: Roxanne Moores

Writer: Julia Samuels

About the writer, director and producer:

LINDY HEYMANN received a BIFA for Best Directorial Debut for her feature Film, Showboy. It also won Best Film at the Milan International Film Festival. Her next feature, Kicks, was nominated for the Michael Powell Award at Edinburgh and was the winner of two Trailblazer awards. Lindy was also nominated for Best British Newcomer at the London Film Festival. Lindy co-wrote and directed The Laughing King a short that touches on the subject of male suicide. It was released online & she was nominated for Best Female Director at LSFF. This year Lindy developed and directed the critically acclaimed I Told My Mum I Was Going on an RE Trip... for BBC2. Lindy also directed The Worst Witch for CBBC/ZDF & Netflix and was 2nd Unit Director on BAFTA nominated Humans & BBC’s Thirteen. Lindy has directed a wide range of music videos working with diverse artists such as Chase & Status, Take That, TEhe Charlatans, Suede, Faithless and The Specials Live Concert Film which was nominated for a UKMV Award. Feature film projects include 4REAL in development with Headgear / Creative England / BFI and RUM DOXY DIVER which is being produced by Hurricane Films. BAFTA selected Lindy as one of 15 Directors for Elevate - an initiative which promotes talented female directors to the wider industry.

Key cast: Paige - Emma Burns, Leah – Jamie Lee-O’Donnell, Tanaya – Aizah Khan, Cousin – Dorcas Sebuyange

Looking for: film festival directors

Facebook: Lindy Heymann

Twitter: @lindyheymann

Instagram: @lindyheymann

Website: www.20storieshigh.org.uk

Other: IMDb, Vimeo

Made in association with: 20 Stories High, Contact

Funders: Arts Council of Great Britain, Battersea Arts, BBC Films

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? PERSISTER, HOT DOCS FILM FESTIVAL, TORONTO, CANADA; Fri 3 May - Sat 4 May