‘Call Jane’ interview: Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Banks

Opening in theaters on October 28 is the new drama ‘Call Jane’ from acclaimed writer and filmmaker Phyllis Nagy (‘Carol’).

The new film stars Elizabeth Banks as Joy, a 1960s housewife who learns that her second pregnancy threatens her life. He soon meets Virginia (Sigourney Weaver), a member of Janes, an underground network of women who take risks to give abortions to pregnant women.

In addition to Banks and Weaver, the cast also includes Wunmi Mosaku, Chris Messina, Kate Mara, and Corey Michael Smith.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Banks about their work on ‘Call Jane,’ the timeliness of the story, Janes’ character, Banks and why she made her choices.

You can read the full interview below or click the video player above to watch our interviews with Weaver, Banks, Wunmi Mosaku, and director Phyllis Nagy.

Moviefone: First of all, Sigourney, did you imagine when you made this film it would be as timely and relevant as it is releasing now?

Sigourney Weaver: I think we’re going to have a national conversation about it, which is great. But I don’t imagine the Supreme Court could simply overturn 50 years of constitutional rights and dramatically change women’s lives, allowing us to have careers, choose how many children to have, and all the other basic rights that stem from this. .

So, what I feel now is, when I watch the movie and see these women working together to help other women, I realize that instead of looking back, we have to look forward and say, “Well, we have to come together and vote. , and supporting health clinics for women across the country.” But we have to beat this. We must return to our constitutional rights.

MF: Elizabeth, can you talk about how meeting Jane changed Joy’s life?

Elizabeth Banks: Meeting Janes was the start of a political revival for my character. I think he’s someone who never thought he needed to seek abortion health services, and he’s pretty judgmental of the people who do. I think it’s relatable enough for a lot of people. But his empathy really opens up by meeting Janes.

I think if I had a message for anyone who watched the movie, it would be that we can use more mindfulness and more empathy when it comes to people who may be walking down a path we will never walk. I love making movies, and I remind people all the time, the majority of Americans don’t think abortion treatment is controversial. It’s something the majority of Americans want to keep safe and legal, and we just have to get back to it.

MF: Finally, can you talk about Joy’s decision and why she had no other choice but to make it?

EB: I think one of the messages of this film is that people are seeking abortion health services, that choice, that is their choice. There is no other choice for them for various reasons. By the way, no one owes any reason to anyone.

That’s another thing I think the film really tries to hammer home on, that the constitutional right to personal decisions about the direction of one’s life is in our constitution. I believe it’s under “Life, Freedom, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” and the idea that a vocal minority has been able to orchestrate the taking of that right from millions and a half of Americans is something we as a collective can come together and fight against.