This week, Chroma Art Film Festival highlights The Rabbit Always Dies, an innovative experimental documentary by Oona Taper. Blurring the lines between fact and fantasy, this visually striking short unearths the forgotten history of pregnancy tests from the 1930s to the 1960s—an era when live frogs and rabbits played a crucial role in reproductive healthcare.
Through a mesmerizing blend of risograph animation and historical imagery, The Rabbit Always Dies delves into the scientific advancements, ecological consequences, and shifting cultural perceptions surrounding pregnancy testing. Taper crafts a poignant meditation on reproductive technology, human-animal relationships, and the overlooked narratives of medical history.
overview
The Rabbit Always Dies is an experimental documentary that uncovers the surprising history of pregnancy tests before modern at-home kits. From the 1930s to the 1960s, doctors relied on live frogs and rabbits to determine pregnancy, a practice that revolutionized medical science but also led to unintended environmental consequences.
The film weaves together archival materials, risograph animation, and speculative storytelling, transporting viewers into an eerie yet compelling reflection on science, ethics, and our relationship with reproductive technology. Without directly addressing contemporary debates on abortion or hormone therapy, Taper subtly prompts audiences to consider how medical advancements shape societal attitudes and personal autonomy.
Credits
- Director & Writer: Oona Taper
- Producer: Oona Taper
- Cinematographer: Oona Taper
- Editor: Oona Taper
- Composer: Oona Taper
- Music: Johanna Brock
- Voice: Florence Woolley
Specifications
- Project Type:Animation, Documentary, Experimental
- Runtime:8 minutes 46 seconds
- Completion Date:February 1, 2025
- Country of Origin:United States, United States
- Aspect Ratio:4:3
- Film Color:Color
- First-time Filmmaker: No
- Student Project: No
Director Biography: Oona Taper
Oona Taper is a Chicago-based artist and filmmaker whose work explores the materiality of moving images and the interplay between history and imagination. Through experimental films, installations, and animations, Taper reinterprets historical events with whimsy and speculative curiosity, offering a dreamlike perspective on the past. Her films investigate the everyday apocalypses of modern life, transforming forgotten histories into deeply evocative, visually compelling narratives.
Director’s Statement
“I began working on this film in 2022, shortly after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. I was drawn to this forgotten history of pregnancy testing because it speaks to the ever-changing landscape of reproductive healthcare and medical understanding. While the film doesn’t explicitly discuss abortion or HRT access, I hope it encourages viewers to reflect on how technology influences bodily autonomy. For me, understanding these histories is inherently political—it shapes how we engage with today’s debates around reproductive rights and medical ethics.”
Follow the filmmaker: @oonataper
