"History is fluid; bronze is not."
Available on VOD:
Amazon | iTunes/Apple TV | YouTube Movies | Fandango Now
About the Film
Synopsis
Shaded under the shadows of a tall tree on the grounds of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery stands a statue of Dr. James Marion Sims, a South Carolinian who spent almost two decades in the Montgomery area, prior to the start of the Civil War, practicing medicine. For many, however, “practicing medicine” is too nice a phrase.
In history, Sims is known as “the father of modern gynecology,” but for his detractors, he has been called “Father Butcher” for his experiments on enslaved women - without anesthesia or what today would be called “informed consent” in the medical community.
His legacy - and the statues dedicated to him for his medical discoveries and advancements in Montgomery, Columbia, SC, and until its removal in early 2018, New York City’s Central Park - only tell part of the story. The whole story requires questioning who Sims was and who the subjects of his experiments were - the mothers of gynecology.
Remembering Anarcha explores these historical figures and issues, along with ethics, race, and the lingering effects on modern society and medicine.
Production Team
The producers of Remembering Anarcha: (L to R) Royce Williams, Josh Carples, and C. DeWayne Cunningham. Photo: Charles Williams / Lush Photography.
Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey
The Mothers of Gynecology
Michelle Browder, who appears in the film, has created the Mothers of Gynecology Monument in Montgomery, AL. Along with the monument, she owns the building located at the former site of the clinic where J. Marion Sims conducted the Alabama fistula experiments and is creating a health and wellness museum and clinic.
Find out more about her work at AnarchaLucyBetsey.org.
