"This engrossing film succeeds in stimulating thought about this polarizing issue. The strongest achievement of Live Free or Die (the ironic title is New Hampshire's state motto) is the portrait it paints of the hard-working self-assured Dro Boldner as well as his supportive wife and their there teenage children. the Goldners all clearly understand the world's harsh realitites, especially after the killing of a Doctor in Buffalo." - Ron Wertheimer, The New York Times

"Three stars. A particlarly relevant program...this is recommended as a solid supplement to more straightforwardly informationally pro-choice materials." - K. Glaser, Video Librarian

"Strongly Recommended. A compelling documentary." - Jeff Dick Booklets

LIVE FREE OR DIE

Available on VHS

Live Free or Die follows the filmmakers' search for an answer to why, despite violence and harassment, some doctors continue to provide abortions.

In search of an answer we followed Dr. Wayne Goldner, a New Hampshire OBGYN fighting on the latest front of the "abortion wars." We take the viewer to the heart of community politics with an intimate portrait of a town wracked by controversy. Wayne's very presence is a continual challenge to his neighbors -- most of whom support abortion rights but don't want to be involved in the divisive moral and political fight this entails.

Against the background of his community we watch Wayne challenge a Catholic hospital merger that eviscerates the area's services. When a patient who is 14 weeks pregnant is barred from the hospital operating room Wayne is forced to send her on an 80 mile cab ride for an emergency termination. In his hometown protesters target him as an abortionist and succeed in getting him dismissed as a sex education teacher from the local school. The battle moves to the heart of community politics when Wayne challenges the local school board to reinstate him. After a wide ranging fight, the board refuses.

We finally conclude that doctors like Wayne often stop providing abortions because of the profound sense of isolation they endure. It is a lack of social support for providers, more than violence, that has left 86% of counties in the US without abortion service.

Live Free or Die aired on PBS' POV series in 2000.

Resources:
Press Kit (PDF Document)