Cancer Movies and the Holidays

I got on the Hulu Web site this evening to look for a movie to watch before bed, and there it was, "Pieces of April," starring Katie Holmes back before she became Mrs. Tom Cruise, darling of the tabloids. 

It was this movie that inspired a whole section of my Web site, Cancer Movies, because I went to see this "comedy" at a movie theater with Younger Son--and had no idea that the mom in the movie was dying of cancer! 

So beware. Not all of us want to be reminded of our own problems when we go to a movie, and many of us, me included, don't appreciate the use of cancer as a plot device. (You know, don't know what to do with an extra character?-- just kill them off with cancer.)

Having said that, Younger Son and I--after a few bad moments--found the mother's character completely sympathetic and cathartic to watch, especially when her wig fell off in a restroom toilet while she was throwing up. We laughed till we cried. 

See: The Assertive Cancer Patient Reviews Cancer Movies

Watch the movie: Pieces of April

Also, a word about the holidays, for those of you who are new to living with cancer: Cancer patients are more likely to melt down at the holidays than at any other time of year. Depression is common. 

So it's good to be prepared. I always start about now to get the support and help I need lined up so that I can have a good holiday with my family without over-taxing myself. 

See: Holiday Meltdowns

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Comments

[MaryM]

How about "My sister's keeper?"

I just read that and am thinking about buying the DVD for my son who was his Dad's donor.

It approaches the situation from a view that I had not ever considered.

I've only read the book so I can't say how disturbing the "sick" scenes might be, although from the book I can imagine there are some sick scenes.

[jeanne Sather]

Hi Mary--I don't know that one, but I will look for it.

For me, it's all in how the story is told. I'm more willing to read a book that has cancer as part of the plot than I am to watch a movie, however.

I read a great book by Anne Tyler--Digging to America--while I was in the hospital, and one character dies of cancer. I was totally OK reading it, because Tyler handled the cancer like she knew what she was talking about. Like she had been there, either as a patient or a family member.

Of course, she's a fantastic writer. One thing I can't read are the nonfiction accounts by family members who had someone die of cancer. I just can't read those.