how was the film? What did you learn? What was the most interesting part? The most difficult? Answer these question and, collectively, write a mini film review. (Start by answering the questions and offering your opinion/review, then others build on and debate.
Overall, I wouldn't say I was a fan of the film. But, I did think the film did a good job portraying what it would be like to be facing a terminal illness like stage 4 ovarian cancer. I found the most interesting part to be how the story was told from her viewpoint the majority of the film. I'm not sure if this was based on a true story (?) but if so, the doctors who treated her should be embarrassed. She was essentially treated as a lab rat and the only person who really took any good care of her was the nurse. This was probably the most difficult part to watch. The way she was treated showed absolutely zero respect for her as a human being. For me, this kinda became too overpowering and less about her journey.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with Meghan that the movie did a good job portraying the struggle of chemotherapy and the pain of having cancer. However, I think the hospital protocol was inaccurate and dramatized for effect. It was borderline abuse with little respect for the patient during some very routine procedures. This was the worst part to watch and I believe the movie could have done without that.
DeleteThe film was well done as a movie, but it was also one of the most depressing films I've ever seen. The most interesting part was the fact that she frequently broke the fourth wall in order to provide her observations. This allowed her to string together her flashbacks and offer her perspective of the process. The most difficult part of the film was seeing how her doctors treated her. The ignored her as a person, constantly saying she was "tough" and so she would be fine during the treatment. I will give the film credit for its honesty but this is not a film I would like to watch again.
ReplyDeleteI think that the film was well done although I don't think I necessarily want to see it again. I think the film did a very good job in showing what the life would be like of a cancer patient. What I thought was interesting was the way they showed her perspective, with the different flashbacks. The most difficult part of the movie in my opinion, was how she was treated in the hospital by the doctors. When she first got to the hospital, it was just as if she were a number and not actually a person. Even as the movie goes on, this kind of treatment continues. Her doctors make her take the full dose of treatment, although she feels like she can't take it. At one point she says "It is not the cancer that is killing me, it is the treatment". Because there was no treatment that would definitely work, they were testing this treatment out on her, so in the doctors' eyes, she needed to take the full dose so that they could see their results. In the their eyes, she was just a test subject. I felt like the only humane treatment she received at the hospital was from her nurse.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree on every point that you made. With the way the doctors treated her as if she was not a person upset me the most and it seemed as if the nurse was the only one close with her because she saw her daily. The treatment was terrible for me and she never verbally said no to the full treatment, until it was her and the nurse talking alone.
DeleteThe film fascinated me. It demonstrated the trauma and loneliness people can feel when they are dyeing. She was surrounded by people that had seen death so much it was routine for them, which made her more hurt.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the movie but from your comment I feel a lot of empathy towards someone in that position. Just the thought of dying alone in a hospital surrounded by doctors/ nurses who see your dying as more of an everyday occurrence would kind of put a serious damper on my life.
DeleteI would have to say that the film is eye-opening and upsetting to watch someone go through Stage 4 cancer and aggressive treatment that does not work. If someone offered to watch this film with me again I would kindly deny the chance, also I would not recommend this film who has lost a loved one to cancer. Yes, it does have the viewpoint of the patient but it leaves the person who watched the movie questioning if all cancer patients are treated in such a way. Personally, I am scared that if I was diagnosed I would not be treated in the best way possible and that scares me. I learned that I should think about my actions and choices so I can live life without regrets. Also when someone is going through a hard time, like a family member dying, it is important to be there and support them. The most interesting part for me was when she would go back and comment on herself when she was younger and the way she should have acted in certain situations with students. The most difficult part was watching her be in pain and the doctors and nurses could not do anything for her. Also when she died and the younger doctor did not know she was a DNR, so she was left exposed.
ReplyDeleteThe film WIt was a powerful film in terms of the actual events that occurred, however, what I found to be even more moving was the way that she was treated by her past student whom was one of the residents. Throughout the entire film the only healthcare worker who showed empathy was the nurse during her last hours. This always brings me back to the concept of meeting a patient where they are at in the disease process. I believe as healthcare workers and in particularly doctors get so used to healing that they forget how to connect on a more simple yet affective level. A great quote for this is from an article I read earlier this year called Don't Just Do Something Stand There. Although this seems contradictory it is very true because the ability to listen and connect in my opinion is paramount to any drug that a doctor could give
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