The Cross Women Have to Bear

(Kreuzzug des Weibes, Martin Berger, Germany 1926, 60 min., 35mm)

A woman from a poor working class family wants to have an abortion of her fifth child, but the doctor refuses because it is illegal. The woman then dies trying to perform the abortion herself. When the husband is arrested by the public prosecutor, the four children are left alone and without means. After the prosecutor's fiancee, a teacher, was raped by the porter's son, the doctor decided to have an abortion after all. He confronts the public prosecutor, who then resigns for reasons of conscience.

Live piano accompaniment by Dr. Philip C. Carli.