THINKFilm pick up rights to scorching docu

Faithful to their controversial docu films, Th!nkFilm has picked up worldwide rights Lake of Fire. Featured at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, the self-financed black-and-white film is Tony Kaye’s long awaited follow-up to his debut feature length film American History X.

The 2 1/2-hour doc look at the development since Roe v. Wade, the United States has been deeply divided on the issue of abortion. In that landmark case, an unmarried woman was refused an abortion in Texas. The judicial challenge that followed won women the right to legal abortions. Proponents and opponents have lined up on either side of the issue ever since, launching verbal abuse – and worse – at each other. As the religious right has increasingly flexed its power, the issue has become even more divisive – and violent. Interviewing a range of individuals – from fundamentalist Christians to professors of sociology, philosophy, and bioethics; from hardcore pro-lifers to equally impassioned pro-choice advocates – Kaye splices into what motivates both sides. It is in the grey areas that we find some of the most interesting commentary, much of which is provided by Noam Chomsky, who intelligently dissects the issue.

Thinkfilm plans to feature the film at festivals with an October release – the film will begin its platform release with an exclusive run at New York's art house cinema Film Forum. Made for more than $6 million over about 16 years, “Fire” will be released theatrically in October, with a possible three- to four-hour TV version to follow. The doc was executive produced by Kaye and his wife, Yan Lin Kaye. The film's co-executive producers are Steve Golin, David Kanter and Lenny Bekerman of Anonymous Content.