The Basement Talks

In 1994, a gunman walked into two Massachusetts abortion facilities and opened fire, killing two staff members and injuring five people. The public outrage in response to this violent tragedy and the subsequent trial was overwhelming, as both the pro-life and pro-choice movements vigorously cast blame, shame, and fierce vitriol on one another. The Basement Talks asks, What do you do with a problem you can’t solve alone, but is so divisive – fatally divisive – you can’t seem to solve it in community, either?

Recognizing the danger and hostility of the rhetoric used on both sides and determined to work to put an end to the violence, the Governor of Massachusetts and the Cardinal of Boston came together to call for dialogue. Their initiative resulted in six women – all leaders in their own communities, and each on very different sides of the debate – meeting secretly in a windowless basement. They were only supposed to meet four times; they met for nearly six years.

This gripping documentary explores how their simple yet significant willingness to engage and foster civil dialogue created understanding and diffused the hate that had become so prevalent. Together, these brave women did what some would consider unthinkable: They not only talked, but they listened to each other. Ultimately, none of the participants would change their minds or their positions, but the experience changed their lives and influenced how the debate would go on outside that basement, in our own living rooms and on the national level. This story highlights the importance of dialogue and empathy in navigating contentious social issues, offering viewers a hopeful perspective on reconciliation and respect.