Wit (2001)
Emma Thompson plays Vivian Bearing, a poetry professor who took a no-nonsense approach to her professional life and chooses to do the same when diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer.
This is, truly, just about perfect. There's a lot of speaking straight to the camera -- there's no attempt to hide the stage origin of the script -- but it works beautifully. She comments on what's going on now and shares memories in gorgeous flashbacks of her childhood, college, and teaching years.
I saw it for the first time more than a dozen years ago and it has stayed with me. It was surprising to find that I'd remembered it so precisely -- I guess that's what happens when one's so strongly affected by art: it takes up residence in your soul.
A+
This is, truly, just about perfect. There's a lot of speaking straight to the camera -- there's no attempt to hide the stage origin of the script -- but it works beautifully. She comments on what's going on now and shares memories in gorgeous flashbacks of her childhood, college, and teaching years.
I saw it for the first time more than a dozen years ago and it has stayed with me. It was surprising to find that I'd remembered it so precisely -- I guess that's what happens when one's so strongly affected by art: it takes up residence in your soul.
A+
posted by MeMe | 4:20 PM
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