Deep Dive: Trapped (2016)
Film Lens

Trapped is a 2016 documentary directed by Dawn Porter that focuses on doctors performing abortions in the Southern United States. The film addresses the impact of TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) laws on abortion access. It features interviews with medical professionals like Marva Sadler and Willie Parker MD, who discuss the legal and personal challenges they face while providing care in a restrictive environment.
The documentary premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, winning a special jury social impact prize. It was released theatrically on March 4, 2016, in New York City and Washington, DC, and later aired on PBS's Independent Lens in June 2016. The film's narrative is grounded in the real experiences of those working in clinics affected by anti-abortion legislation, particularly in the South, where such laws are more prevalent than in other regions of the U.S.
Why Watch
- •Meet doctors like Willie Parker MD fighting TRAP laws.
- •See the impact of anti-abortion laws in Southern states.
- •Find out how clinics adapt to restrictive regulations.
Did You Know
•Trapped won a special jury social impact prize at Sundance 2016.
•The film has a 77/100 score on Metacritic and 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
•It was released in theaters on March 4, 2016, in two cities.
•The film's duration is 83 minutes.
Perfect For
Abortion rights advocatesPublic health policySouthern U.S. issues