Watch Vessel

Vessel, a documentary film from 2014, follows the story of Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, a Dutch physician who founded Women on Waves, a non-profit organization that provides women with access to safe and legal abortion services worldwide. Directed by Diana Whitten, this compelling film offers a window into the struggle for reproductive rights and the global fight for women's health.

The film offers a unique perspective on the challenges of abortion in various regions of the world, illustrating how the “pro-life” movement has created systematic obstacles to safe and legal abortion access. The story also exposes the effects of sexual violence and coercion in countries where women lack control over their bodies and reproductive choices.

As the film begins, it explores the history of Gomperts and how she started her mission of providing abortions on international waters with Women on Waves. We get to see what kind of person Gomperts is, her values, and how the Women on Waves ship functions. It showcases the ship's crew as well, showing us how everyone works together with their respective roles to circumvent laws in restrictive countries where abortion is illegal.

Through the personal stories of women who risk everything to gain access to a safe, legal medical procedure, the film brings attention to the often-ignored voices of women facing a lack of reproductive care. It shows us that while there are different cultural practices and beliefs around the world, the struggle for reproductive rights remains a universal one. We are given an insight into other people’s environments and their interpretation of feminism, sexual and reproductive rights. Highlighting the lack of access to safe and legal abortions in restrictive countries, the film underscores the importance of access to medical facilities on land where laws permit women to gain access to healthcare.

The film takes us with Dr. Gomperts and her crew to countries like Ireland, where women have a constitutional right to health care but are denied access to abortion or even information about making an appointment to gain access to it. This film then chronicles the journey of Women on Waves as they sail on international waters, providing people with safe access to abortion services. We get to see the team constantly hounded by local authorities, and the harsh fight they have to wage in the government, trying to get laws amended so that women have the right to terminate their pregnancies.

As a viewer, we see how Dr. Gomperts is often criticized and opposed by anti-abortion activists and religious institutions which try to hinder the progress of Women on Waves from performing their duties. The realness of the movie puts us in the shoes of the people who want to expand women's health care rights and the obstacles presented.

The film also shows us the power of people who stand together in support of reproductive care, making it clear that while there are different cultural practices and beliefs around the world, the struggle for reproductive rights remains a universal one. Women from around the world have come together to defend their reproductive health — from Poland to Argentina, and from Mexico to Portugal. Ultimately, this film demonstrates how the mission of Women on Waves has started a global revolution, empowering women to enforce their basic human rights.

The documentary emphasizes the importance of access to medical facilities where women can receive safe medical care to tackle numerous social and political issues at once: gender inequality, autonomy over one’s body, limited education, access to healthcare, liberal abortion laws, and many more.

Vessel brings to light current events, telling a relevant story of reproductive rights and the fight for abortion access in restrictive countries, providing the power not only to the ones fighting against oppression, but also to those who will leave viewers motivated and passionate about continuing their battle to change oppressive laws. The documentary showcases how organizations like Women on Waves fight for women’s reproductive rights and enfranchise those who are most vulnerable. Overall, Vessel is an informative, eye-opening, and heartening film about a crucial civil rights issue that contains important lessons and stories for people everywhere.

Vessel is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6 and a MetaScore of 68.