Call Jane

Joy, a traditional 1960s American housewife, unexpectedly becomes pregnant again. A doctor warns her that this late pregnancy poses a serious threat to her life, but the all-male hospital board refuses to grant her an exception to the strict anti-abortion legislation in place. She has nowhere to turn, until she stumbles upon the “Janes”, an underground group of ordinary women lead by Virginia, who risk everything to provide choices for women like Joy. They not only save her life, but also give her a sense of purpose: to help other women take control of their destinies.
Phyllis Nagy, who penned the screenplay of Todd Haynes’s gorgeous Carol (2015), has fittingly bestowed the fascinating part of a bourgeois housewife-turned-women-rights-warrior on the great Elizabeth Banks. Her seamless performance produces an effect akin to a poignant rallying cry for all women whose intelligence has been, and sadly still is, reined in by patriarchy’s obstructions. Imagine then Banks’s charisma being combined with those of Sigourney Weaver, Kate Mara, Wunmi Mosaku and others. When they unite, how could any man stop them?
by Phyllis Nagy
with Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Chris Messina, Wunmi Mosaku, Kate Mara, Cory Michael Smith, Grace Edwards
USA 2022 English 121’ Colour

With

  • Elizabeth Banks (Joy)
  • Sigourney Weaver (Virginia)
  • Chris Messina (Will)
  • Wunmi Mosaku (Gwen)
  • Kate Mara (Lana)
  • Cory Michael Smith (Dean)
  • Grace Edwards (Charlotte)

Crew

Director Phyllis Nagy
Screenplay Hayley Schore, Roshan Sethi
Cinematography Greta Zozula
Editing Peter McNulty
Music Isabella Summers
Production Design Jona Tochet
Costumes Julie Weiss
Make-Up Missy Scarbrough
Casting Sheila Jaffe, Bryan Riley
Assistant Director Dan Ringey
Production Manager Scott Chester
Producers Robbie Brenner, David Wulf, Kevin McKeon

Produced by

Robbie Brenner Productions

Redline Entertainment

Herring Cove Productions

Phyllis Nagy

Born in New York City, USA in 1962. Her screenplay for Carol, which she adapted from the Patricia Highsmith novel “The Price of Salt”, saw her nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA and winning the New York Film Critics Circle Award. The film was directed by Todd Haynes and starred Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Her writing and directing work on Mrs. Harris, starring Annette Bening and Ben Kingsley, received multiple Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe nominations.

Filmography (as director)

2005 Mrs. Harris 2022 Call Jane

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022