Belén review – gripping true story of a woman wrongly accused of illegal abortion | Films

belén is a pseudonym; In 2014, a 25-year-old woman was hospitalized Argentina with severe abdominal pain, which turned out to be a miscarriage. She had no idea she was 22 weeks pregnant, but doctors suspected she had had an abortion, which was illegal in Argentina at the time, and called the police. Belén was charged with aggravated murder and sentenced to eight years in prison. When her case was taken up by feminist lawyer Soledad Deza, it sparked protests, with thousands taking to the streets in green scarves. This heartfelt drama tells the story primarily from the perspective of lawyer Deza (played by the film’s director, Dolores Fonzi).

It starts in the hospital. The senior doctor barely bothers to look at Belén from his clipboard – she is a poor, working-class woman and this will determine her fate. After a fetus is found in the hospital toilet, the police arrive and handcuff Belén to her bed. They don’t do DNA testing on the fetus, so there is no physical evidence – a fact that was not brought up by the bloodthirsty, lazy defense at their trial. The real Belén has always chosen to remain anonymous, which may explain why her character fades into the background here, although Camila Plaate’s sensitive supporting performance gives us a glimpse into Belén’s growing political consciousness.

The film is essentially a legal procedural film: solid, mostly entertaining and occasionally gripping. It follows Deza and her team step by step as they fight against the system to win Belén her appeal. As the case gains momentum, it consumes Deza’s waking hours, causing resentment in her family. It’s a reminder of the expectations of women’s work and home lives – no matter how important your job is, you won’t be forgiven for missing your child’s violin recital. The film ends with an absolute punch-the-air highlight with real footage on the streets in December 2020, when abortion was legalized in Argentina, with faces full of joy and tears of joy.