Xiana Yago’s debut feature documentary, Let Women Choose (Las Mujeres Deciden), attempts to break taboos concerning abortion and sexual violence in Ecuador. In the pro-life country abortion rights are nearly non-existent and are regularly performed illegally and in secret. “I thought it was very important to talk openly about this issue—people don’t talk in the families and the schools,” explains Yago.
See the US Premiere of ‘Let Women Choose’ on February 24, 2018 @6:30pm at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 7th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival.
The film follows Maria, a doctor, who investigates teenage pregnancies in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Maria initially interviews teens and women about pregnancy and abortion, but when they uncover a story about rape the film’s conversation shifts to also address sexual violence. Yago says that she “started to realize that sexual violence was a big issue related to pregnancy and motherhood.”
Yago’s biggest challenge was deciding whether to include stories that would put the safety of her subjects at risk. One participant openly shared a story about being assaulted by her father. Yago says, “At first I didn’t want to include the story because I was afraid that she might become stigmatized in her hometown or that her story would be used in the media.” Despite the dangers, M. decided to go on with the project. Publicizing her story was a way for her to seek justice and heal emotional wounds.
Why Ecuador?
The Berlin-based filmmaker and physician first visited Ecuador in 2007 to complete her practical through the University of San Francisco Quito exchange program. While visiting the maternity hospital, she was shocked to see the poor treatment of women. “Women come in everyday for abortions and the complications from these abortions.” Having an abortion is punishable by law unless the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother. As a result many turn to clandestine and unsafe abortions. “Some women didn’t know it was illegal and they would be arrested after telling hospital personnel about their abortion.” Between 2013 and 2015 at least 138 women were prosecuted for having abortions in Ecuador.
In 2012, she returned and stayed for two years. “In 2007 I met people who were starting a hotline for safe abortion in Ecuador—I thought it was amazing—I wanted to research and make a film about the problems women face in Ecuador.” In 2014 she received permission from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health to film at secondary schools and hospitals across the country.
Many of the patients she saw were teens. After Venezuela, Ecuador has the second highest teenage pregnancy rate in Latin America. In the last ten years, pregnancy in girls aged ten to 14 years has risen 78% and according to the penal code, every pregnancy of a girl under 14 years is a result of sexual violence.
Film Screenings
Upon completion in April 2017 Let Women Choose premiered at the Wales International Documentary Festival where it won Best Edit. In May 2017, the film toured at universities and cinemas across Ecuador. Showings were followed by discussions where local educators shared resources on sexual violence. People attending also shared their own stories of violence: “Maybe they had never talked to anybody about it before. They felt that this was a safe space—and that was amazing.”
Final Thoughts
Women and men have been speaking out against sexual assault with the recent #metoo movement. Although the movement may be focused on Hollywood, it certainly does not stop there. An article published by The Guardian last week suggests that the United Nations does not address sexual assault allegations in the workplace and has cultivated “a culture of silence.” If this culture is prevalent in an organization that people turn to for protection, what hope is there to create change?
Chloe Lee
Chloe Lee is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker, visual artist, and avid traveler. Her latest documentary film explores how Singaporeans relate to their changing cultural landscape. Follow her on Instagram at @chloeyenling
About Winter Film Awards
New York City’s 7th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival runs February 22-March 3 2018. Check out our jam-packed lineup of 93 fantastic films in all genres from 31 countries, including Animation, Drama, Comedy, Thriller, Horror, Documentary and Music Video. Hollywood might ignore women and people of color, but Winter Film Awards celebrates everyone!
Winter Film Awards is an all volunteer, minority- and women-owned registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2011 in New York City by a group of filmmakers and enthusiasts. The program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the NY State Council on the Arts.
