It follows Abby Johnson, one of the youngest reproductive health clinic directors in the United States, and her journey to discover not just the truth behind abortion but the truth about herself.

Abortion has for a long time now been a very controversial topic. Both the pro-choice and the anti-abortion advocates put forth compelling arguments as well as many means to share these reasons and stories.

Recently, SM Cinema exclusively showed the anti-abortion movie Unplanned, based on an autobiographical memoir. It follows Abby Johnson, one of the youngest reproductive health clinic directors in the United States, and her journey to discover not just the truth behind abortion but the truth about herself.

As the reproduction healthcare director of Planned Parenthood, an abortion hospital, Abby strongly believes in the corporation and supports it. She is told that as long as the baby is “a clump of cells,” it can’t feel anything and so no one is hurting it. This is exactly what they explain to the patients as well. With that justification, their operations continue.

While working Abby witnesses firsthand an ultrasound-guided abortion procedure, and what she sees changes everything. She sees the baby twisting and turning and desperately trying to fight for his/her life, and she watches the whole thing until the end. It is in that moment that she feels her heart is in her hand. She knows being there is wrong. It is during these years that her life takes a drastic turn. Suddenly, Abby feels God speak to her. Eventually, she becomes one of the leading anti-abortion activists in the US.

In the movie, during an abortion procedure where the baby is being sucked out from the mother, it seems like the fetus is trying to squirm (also possibly the body’s reaction) to avoid the instruments until it eventually fails and dies.

Unplanned shows that after an operation, all of the collected lifeless fetuses are thrown in a big plastic barrel for disposal.

Unplanned was directed by Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman and stars Ashley Bratcher as Abby Johnson, Brooks Ryan as Doug, Robia Scott as Cheryl, Jared Lotz as Shawn and Emma Elle Roberts as Marilisa. The filmmakers are proud that the movie was able to make its way to cinemas all over the world.

During the premiere at SM North EDSA, a press conference was held featuring Bratcher, who flew all the way from the United States to promote the film in the Philippines.

Daily Tribune had an exclusive interview:

ABBY’S life took a drastic turn as she finally realized there is something wrong with the corporation she is working for.

Daily Tribune (DT): How was your experience during the whole process?

Ashley Bratcher (AB): I think just with the topic of abortion was a challenge already, it was only when I accepted the role that I found out so much that I didn’t know all along. It was a learning process. I had no prior knowledge on the topic of abortion. I had no idea what the procedure exactly looked like. I had no idea how Planned Parenthood worked as an organization.

Essentially, I ended up getting my heart broken because I was so blind. I didn’t know what was going on in my own world. That was one of my greatest challenges.

DT: After working with Unplanned, where do you stand now?

AB: This movie has become so much more to me. It is not just a movie but a ministry. It has changed my life because right now I’m traveling all across the United States of America and I’m visiting Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRC). These are the places that offer resources to expecting mothers who are sometimes considering abortion. PRC help these pregnant women get what they need like diapers or even parenting classes, so that when they decide to keep the babies they know they’re not alone. PRC are really out to help incoming mothers and get them through situations.

Abortion is something that we’re talking about in the world right now and it is just such a hot issue. I have been spending so much time traveling and dedicating my life for this ministry that I even talk to girls about this.

Compared to other roles I’ve had in the past or even in the future, this movie has made it so much more personal and in-depth because of its ministry. I am active and hands-on in this ministry.

AB: Unplanned is based on a true story so I was learning a lot during the process of research and talking to Abby. I didn’t know her before I started the movie so after I got the role, I immediately reached out to her and I started calling her in my cell phone. I got to ask her personal questions and I started becoming really good friends with her. She even spent two weeks on set, so I was able to work with her face-to-face. I got to know her personality and I realize we were very similar. Portraying Abby was a huge responsibility but at the same time it was so easy because we had the same characteristics, more or less. To be able to tell the powerful story of Abby’s transformation and to really share what she went through was such an honor. It was incredible to witness the grace she had.

DT: How can an anti-abortion person approach someone who is pro-choice?

AB: I think that what most women want to hear is someone to say, “I’m here for you,” because most women feel so isolated in this situation that they feel like they can’t handle it alone. That’s why they are making this decision, out of fear or isolation. So when these girls know that someone is there to tell them: ”I’ll do whatever I can to help you, like you can live with me — woah, that’s extreme — but something in the lines of that then they might change their minds. If someone just tells them, “I’ll help you find assistance or be with you through it all,” then that could make a difference. In fact, there is government assistance in the US so just being knowledgable about the resources available and to be able to share that with the girls can be of help in our world already.

AMERICAN actress and anti-abortion activist Ashley Bratcher (left) and the film’s co-producer Mike Manhardt.

DT: How were you able to relate yourself to Abby and Unplanned?

AB: What people don’t know is that I am here right now even if I was intended to be aborted.

DT: To score the main lead in Unplanned was really meant for you!

AB: Yes, I believe so, too. I’m telling this story to the world right now but to be honest I had no idea until I started working on the movie and my mother revealed to me that she was on an abortion table and got up and walked out just minutes before the abortion. The story speaks to me so much more because of how it proves God’s perfect plan for me. As a Christian, this was personally a Jeremiah 1:5 for me where the Scripture spoke to me, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations. (NLT),” and tied together with Jeremiah 29:11 that declares, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ (NLT).” All of these just reminded me that God has such a plan for us from the moment of conception. Each life has a very unique and individual purpose on this planet.

DT: How can we possibly promote the movie to people of different beliefs?

AB: I want to encourage people of different beliefs to see the film because if someone is pro-choice then whatever they watch shouldn’t be able to change their mind if they really believe whatever it is they believe. They should be able to watch the movie and walk out and not be affected. I believe that everybody should challenge their beliefs, and it could begin by watching this film. I also don’t see anything wrong with having a conversation with someone who disagrees and in the end, people can just agree to disagree.