HBO Releases 'The Devil is Busy', A Short Documentary on The Battle For Reproductive Rights in the US
By Natalia Albin Legorreta
The HBO Original documentary short The Devil is Busy premiered on the channel on Tuesday 23rd September. Directed by Greeta Gandbhir (Eyes on the Prize, Black and Missing) and Christalyn Hampton (Born in Synanon, Come Together), the film follows a day in the life of Tracii, head of security at a women’s healthcare clinic in Atlanta, Georgia, in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overturned.
“Abortion is completely banned in twelve states, and then there are six states that have bans on abortions after six-weeks – Georgia is one of them,” explains Gandbhir. “This clinic has to deal with that issue when their clients come in, and if they are over six weeks, they have to be turned away. Tracii welcomes them in and has to witness them leave if they are denied. That’s why it was important for us to be in Georgia,” she says.
The short captures the precautions Tracii takes to keep women and staff safe, from scanning for intruders to protecting client identities. She also has to face off with anti-abortion protestors daily. The film weaves in her personal story, showing how her Christian faith shapes her work, offering a contrast to the way Christianity is wielded within the pro-life movement. The short is a snapshot of reproductive healthcare in a country where abortion rights have been disastrously rolled back, highlighting not just the legal barriers but the cultural shifts as well.
Tracii Wesley in The Devil Is Busy
“Before we started rolling the cameras, I spent a couple of days at the clinic, getting to know the staff, the doctors and, of course, Tracii,” says director Christalyn Hampton, who is based in Atlanta. “Seeing how emotional she got about the women, understanding her faith and Christianity, seeing her flair, I just thought there was something so interesting about her. The clinic is run by all women, and you have these protesters outside screaming in your ears the whole time.”
The title The Devil is Busy comes from Tracii herself. Her belief that her work matters because “The Devil is busy out there,” referring to the fight against women’s rights. Gandbhir says. “She is a deeply Christian woman practising the same faith that the protesters outside are weaponising against women. But she has chosen a totally different take on it, and it offers a different perspective on abortion and women’s health care. I think when we are living in a time where women are under siege as far as our rights, our status in society, and religion is the tool that is being used to attack us, people like Tracii are, in many ways, the antidote.”
Currently released on HBO in the US and in territories with access to the platform, the 30-minute short is currently seeking global release. Both directors hope this will happen soon, whether through a wider streaming platform or even a YouTube release, believing the film’s message holds international importance.
The film is executive produced by Soledad O’Brien and Rose Arce, produced by Christalyn Hampton, Rose Arce, Amber Fares, and Soledad O’Brien, and edited by Tristan Nash. Watch The Devil is Busy on HBO Max, available for all countries with access.
