Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Bruce from DC (B) on June 25, 2002 at 14:37:19

I just had occasion to rent the video of HBO's filmed version of the stage play "Wit" about a professor of 17th century English literature stricken with late-stage ovarian cancer.

I supppose it helps that I am a lover of John Donne's poetry (which figures prominently in the play) and that my wife has gone through the whole cancer "treatment" process (although, thankfully, not with a late-stage outbreak).

However, Emma Thompson gives us another example of why she is one of the best actresses working in English today. Other cast members: Christopher Lloyd as the "big cheese" research doctor, Jonathan Woodward as his unfeeling sidekick and musical theater diva Audra McDonald (this is not a musical, folks; don't worry) giving an excellent performance as the cancer ward nurse.
The original play was written by Margaret Edson, and the screenplay adaptation was by Emma Thompson.

Mike Nichols directed.

This is more than a "isn't cancer treatment dehumanizing and now I'm going to die" film.