Two films that couldn’t be farther apart.
A Lion in the House (Steven Bognar & Julia Reichert, 2006)
A Lion in the House is a two part documentary aired on PBS’ Independent Lens that follows the lives of five families whose children are diagnosed with cancer. The filmmakers trace the familys’ journeys through all of the painful decisions including when to stop treatment and let go. It’s pretty hard to watch at times, but it’s not maudlin or depressing either. In fact some of the kids are so full of life, so funny, that you can’t help but laugh.
I’ve been waiting for this to air for a few years since a close friend of mine, a pediatric oncologist, was one of the doctors who treated one of the kids. It was fascinating to watch my friend at work, being Mr. Serious Doctor, a side that’s a bit different from the rockin’ out at ACL Fest side that I see every year.
Mainly it was a good reminder of why I’m so involved with The Periwinkle Foundation. I’ve been working with childhood cancer patients for seventeen years at Camp Periwinkle and it was interesting to see the other side, the hospital side, of treatment that camps like Periwinkle work so hard to counterbalance.
Whether you’re involved with childhood cancer or just want to see a documentary about people who display unbelievable courage in the face under the most awful of circumstances, this is one that everyone should check out.
Shoot or Be Shot (Randy Argue, 2002)
Shoot of Be Shot is a fun, fun movie. Harry Hamlin plays a sleazy producer of B films who wants to go arty. He hires a film school geek with big ideas and they set out to the desert to create art. Then an escaped mental patient, played by William Shatner who chews the scenery up oh so deliciously, comes along and hijacks the production forcing them to make his movie instead. Lots of fun.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
Be First to Comment