A World Without Down's Syndrome? (TV Movie 2016) Poster

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8/10
Very much an authored documentary
simon-hall12 April 2024
It's curious to see the negative reviews, which are really reactions to the argument of the film rather than the quality of it.

Sally Phillips is both a successful actress and a Christian, which is clear in the film so any bias is on show.

She visits Iceland which has been successful in 'eradicating' Downs Syndrome, not by curing it but by identifying and aborting all fetuses that carry this abnormality.

Much is made of her own relationship with her child, and it's not really made clear whether her resources (financial, emotional, familial or spiritual) have resulted in improved outcomes, or whether she is just 'lucky'. That would have been worth investigating further.

Anything that touches on abortion raises all kinds of emotions, and there is an unspoken critique of those whose chose abortion for a fetus with Downs. If people don't want to think about this stuff, they don't have to watch this film. However, seeing her happy and smiling son raises disturbing questions about the ethics of using abortion to 'solve' disability.
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1/10
The path to hell is paved with good intentions...
jonasatmosfera4 June 2021
If one has money, resources, help, etc., etc....then one can see the world through rose colored lenses.

But, if ones has no money and has a severely disabled child, then all hell breaks loose and life becomes a real nightmare.

People must have options, people should have the right to choose.
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3/10
Definitely not a documentary
MamLebel8 September 2022
This woman is wealthy and successful. Her vision of Down's Syndrome is very biased by the fact that her son is really mildly affected by the disability. Down's Syndrome can manifest in so many different ways. Serious health problems, severe mental disabilities and very few ressources available for the children affected or the parents... This is the reality. I can't be sure of the intention of the filmmaker, but I felt very frustrated by her attitude. She didn't try to have a discussion. When asked how she anticipate the futur of her son without her, she simply shut down the conversation. This would have been a great segment with both sides of the debate.
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1/10
One sided viewpoint
melissaanderson-687616 August 2023
The storyteller is one sided as her son has a mild case of downs syndrome. She is very fortunate to be wealthy and married and able to give her son the best life she can. She didn't even attempt to include people who are struggling to provide for children with disabilities. She is anti choice and wants screening programs abolished and women forced to carry unwanted pregnancies. She didn't choose her son either, his diagnosis was given 10 days after his birth, funny how she makes it sound like she willingly chose him. She was thrust into this life without a choice because her child was already born, and she wants others to have no choice too.

Thankfully some guests she interviewed mentioned choice, unfortunately she shuts down the conversation rather quickly.

There is no discussion on how mothers/parents lives change after having a down syndrome child. We all know many women end up single when having a disabled child. But... as this woman has a very one sided shut viewpoint, none of this is mentioned.
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