Between Life & Death: Terri Schiavo’s Story

This film revisits the story of Terri Schiavo, whose famous right-to-die legal battle divided a family and launched an American culture war. At only 26, Terri suffered a brain injury that left her in a “vegetative state,” with no hope of recovery. While her husband wanted to let Terri die, her parents insisted she be kept alive. What began as a family dispute in local Florida courts escalated into the biggest news story in the world, involving the highest levels of government. This film examines how politicians and activists on the religious right harnessed Terri’s story and the power of the pro-life movement for political gain, laying the groundwork for anti-abortion battles to come. Using a wealth of archival footage, the film weaves together past and present to ask universal questions about the government’s role in our private lives and who gets to decide if a life is worth living.