A Family is Dealt the Cancer Card

The film, simply put, is a powerful, tearjerker about a life-threatening illness that affects not only the family member who has the disease, but explores the emotions and toll of each member in the family. It’s a beautifully told story based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Jodi Picoult. The film is directed by Nick Cassavetes, (The Notebook) who also co-wrote the screenplay. He gives us a rendition that is poignant, inspirational and realistic. The film follows the book’s format as first-person commentary, (narration by each character). This style can be somewhat exasperating as in film we’d rather be ‘shown the action’ than read too, but it seems to work, as we are shown plenty. I thoroughly enjoyed two aspects of the film in comparison to the book: 1) the focus on Kate (the sick teen) as she goes through all the emotions of having a teenage boyfriend and  2) thankfully, the ending has been changed.

Big-name stars fill the cast starring: Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin, Sofia Vassilieva, Joan Cusack and Jason Patric. It’s the story of a family whose daughter has cancer and the only way to save her is to conceive another child who will be able to provide life sustaining tissues, blood, bone marrow, etc. Diaz plays Sara, a high-powered attorney who is not accustomed to giving up and is Kate’s (Vassilieva) mother. Patric plays Brian, the fire-fighter dad and quiet husband, who can’t get two words in edgewise over his dominating wife. Breslin plays Anna who decides; ‘enough is enough’ as she has rights of her own and hires Campbell Alexander (Baldwin) as her lawyer to stop the next medical procedure, which is a kidney transplant. Cusack plays Judge DeSalvo who has lost a 12 year old daughter herself, which makes for an interesting twist. We can’t leave out the older troubled son, Jesse, played by Evan Ellingson as he’s very much a part of this family as well.

The beginning of the film shows Anna explaining how babies are made and that she was in fact manufactured to keep her sister alive. From the start, the film draws you in as the story is incredible. Next, we have a series of flashbacks showing each family member and each personality. The film is fairly fast-paced in the early stages with many different scenes until it settles in on Anna and her dilemma. By now we have a good sense of the family and how everyone will react to the news that she’s suing her parents for the rights to her own body.

None of the heart wrenching hospital scenes are sugar coated as Cassavetes delves into the issue of cancer. We are not spared the visuals; vomiting, loss of hair, blood, etc. Cancer isn’t pretty-but what is pretty, is the way the film deals with the feelings of each family member and their role in surviving such a horrible fate. The film is important as it shows how families cope and explores the realization that common sense can become clouded when dealing with a deadly disease.  Cameron Diaz’s performance is her best to date, she’s channeled the emotions as she’s very convincing. Basically by the end of the film you want to leap out of your seat and give her a much needed hug. Joan Cusack’s performance was spectacular as well, as the judge who must weigh all sides of the case. The scenes between Cusack and Breslin are touching.

The film generates discussion and may act as a healing point for anyone who has suffered alongside those with a terminal illness. It reminded me of “Lorenzo’s Oil,” a film with Susan Sarandon and Nick Nolte (both gave powerful performances) which was nominated for two Oscars. It also brings back the loss of my own sister who endured a rare type of cancer which took her life at age 42. I saw many glaring similarities in the film regarding; family member’s reactions, love and the act of pulling together.

Make no mistake; this is a tough film to watch, but so was “The Notebook.” What we have here is REAL life, and REAL life is hard. The rewards of this film outweigh any unpleasantness.

Sarah Adamson © 2009