CONTRABAN (2022)

Desperate to maintain Whiteness in a dystopian future, the American government bans BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) citizens from reproducing after they become the majority of the population. CONTRABAN follows the heart-wrenching story of Essence and Elijah as they go about their everyday lives while navigating the danger of illegally conceiving a child in this society. On this emotional journey, the intricacies of reproductive rights in this imagined world are explored, while also drawing the connection to today's reproductive discourse. It also highlights the nuances of relationships formed in citizen-repressed societies that usually incite survival-based behavior. Essence's plight represents a pivotal conversation about two of the most basic human rights that should be afforded to all women: agency over their own bodies and access to safe maternal health care.