While I can normally convince at least one of my friends to see a movie with me if I think it is going to be good I had resigned myself to viewing Lake of Fire by my lonesome. But when one of my roommates decided on scheduling a last minute party for a Sunday night my remaining roommates quickly decided that a 150 minute documentary on abortion was the type of escapism they were searching for on that night.

Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don’t go to Heaven where the angels fly.
They go to a Lake of Fire and fry.
Won’t see ‘em again ’till the Fourth of July.
- The Meat Puppets

Director Tony Kaye’s (American History X) new film is something of a rarity for theatrical documentaries. It has little to no narrative structure, and its primary goal is to inform its audience, rather then manipulate, as much as possible about the subject of abortion. As a documentary fan it is rare nowadays to find one that doesn’t fudge on the details to help enhance its story or its position. As good a film maker as Michael Moore is, its in this style that he excels but it is to the detriment of the genre as a whole. Rather then relying on the film makers to be objective you are almost forced to analyze every detail for fear that you might be taken in by a film that might border on out right propaganda. For as delicate a subject as the abortion “debate” is, Kaye’s objectivity is mercifully welcomed.Much has been noted about how gruesome the film is and it certainly delivers on that end. Abortions from each trimester are depicted in graphic detail, including the now infamous partial birth procedure that was recently banned here in the United States. The only thing making these procedures bearable to witness is the black and white film stock that provides a muted layer of protection for the viewer. But the violence that appears on screen is not only by the doctors performing abortions. In a deliberate, yet deft touch, Kaye also devotes time to the violence perpetrated against the doctors who perform abortions. Recounting a man who wore a bullet proof vest to work to help alleviate his wife’s fears only to still be killed, to a particularly tragic story of a doctor who was gunned down while he was sitting down to have dinner with his wife and son.

The only obvious fault with the film is one Kaye had little control of. Due to the obviously controversial subject matter, Kaye struggled throughout filming to find financial backers for the film. Eventually Kaye put up his own money, nearly bankrupting himself in the process, simply so he could produce the film exactly how he wanted it. This resulted in numerous delays ad have led to the film holding the somewhat dubious honor of being a fourteen year labor of love for the director. But because all of the filming was finished almost six years ago, there is a sizable information gap in the film. There is little to no mention of the morning after pill, chemical abortions, or the partial birth abortion debate. So if you intend to view Lake of Fire as a contemporary view of the abortion debate you will be disappointed. But as a decade long snapshot of one of the most controversial topics to ever face this country, it is without peer.

But even with its gaps in information, Lake of Fire more then exceeds any flaws with its dynamic and outstanding commentaries from noted intellectuals like Noam Chomsky and Alan Dershowitz. These interviews attempt to draw the debate from the standard ad hominem rantings of “A fetus isn’t human” or “Murder is wrong” offered up by both fringes into the much more complicated realities that actually exist. It is in these moments that Lake of Fire provides stunning revelatory insight, and perhaps unknowingly, hope that the debate can one day be resolved once the really difficult questions finally are asked by those who don’t rely on absolutes to provide them with answers.

Lake of Fire is not a unique film, but it is certainly an ambitious take on a hot button issue. And while the actions of the subjects on screen will regularly dredge up feelings of heart break, shame, and anger Kaye should have nothing but pride for producing such a seminal work. Lake of Fire certainly is not the most entertaining, and possibly not even the best, documentary of the year. But it is the must see film of the year.