Janie's Janie 1972
Distributed by Third World Newsreel, 545 Eighth Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018; 212-947-9277
Produced by The Newsreel Collective
Directed by Geri Ashur
DVD, b&w, 25 min.
Sr. High - General Adult
History, Women's Studies, Gender Studies
Date Entered: 04/10/2013
Reviewed by Sarah B. Cornell, Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth, NHJanie's Janie is an unflinching snapshot of one woman's life in 1970-71, told entirely in Janie's voice. Jane Giese escaped the home of her abusive father only by marrying at the age of 15. Janie's husband also isolated her from the world, assuring her that he knew how things worked and that she should trust his judgment. At the time of filming, she had separated from Charlie and was working hard to raise five children on her own.
This very short documentary merely sketches her story, but Janie is a powerful example of a woman who's recently become aware of her ability to make her own decisions, solve her own problems, and run a household. After her separation, Janie did more than experience the community she lacked while she was married, she also helped to organize services for women just like herself.
Janie's Janie would be an excellent discussion prompt for students of history or gender studies because the filmmaker imposes no analysis on Janie's narration. Footage of Janie and her family is supplemented by images of a variety of women in similar situations, which ties Janie's story into the sea change which was the 1970's women's movement.