Wit (DVD)

First of all, be advised, this is a tough film to watch; but also know that if you choose to do so, you will be rewarded with an experience that is invaluable and unforgettable, and in ways that transcend mere cinematic satisfaction. There is no mystery here, no secrets nor allegories. Indeed, the subject matter is made succinctly evident in the first words you hear, spoken by Dr. Kelekian (Christopher Lloyd) to Vivian Bearing (Emma Thompson): "You have cancer." And so begins "Wit," directed by Mike Nichols, a film that will claim you emotionally and take you to a place of eternal night-- a region, in fact, wherein even the most intrepid of body and spirit fear to tread. It puts you in a dark room with that thing in the closet and keeps you there; and there is no way out. And once inside, it forces you to face your worst fears, albeit vicariously, in a way that invites some serious reflection upon mortality and the profundity of life.Vivian Bearing is a professor of English Literature, specializing in the work of Seventeenth Century poet John Donne. Hers is a scholarly life, and she is secure with her place in it; not yet fifty, she has achieved a level of comfort with herself, as well as her work, especially in the class she teaches on Donne. With her students she is a demanding taskmaster and does not suffer fools, nor students who opt for more immediate pleasures over Donne, refusing to accept youthful zeal as an excuse for academic impropriety. In her classroom, she insists that those in attendance rise to her level; she does not stoop to conquer.Then, with the words of Dr. Kelekian, her world abruptly changes. At first, wrapped in intellectual armor, she finds at least some comfort and respite in her beloved Donne, but she soon finds that the pursuits of the mind, even leavened with a healthy ego, attain a diminished capacity within the environs of a ravaging disease. The eternity of the hospital affords her much time for reflection, and as her illness progresses she undergoes a change in perspectives; taking stock, she considers such things as the aloof manner she affected that served no purpose other than to distance her from her students. And she thinks about it now, not with regret, but differently; her intellectual acumen no longer separates her from her students, nor affords her a lofty perch from which she may sit in judgment. She understands, at last, that she is not so different from them after all. For as she discovers to her considerable dismay-- pain is the great equalizer.Written by Nichols and Thompson, the screenplay is based on the play by Margaret Edson. The story unfolds like a living diary, as Vivian addresses the viewer directly, with a descriptive narrative that leaves little to the imagination. Graphically real and unrelenting, it is a riveting chronicle that will hold you in thrall from beginning to end and beyond-- because this experience does not end when the screen goes dark; it's something that is going to be with you for a long time afterwards, so be prepared. And the reason this will linger in your memory is that it's a contemplation of a reality that is horrendous beyond imagination. This is that thing that always happens to someone else, but never to "me," and to be put in the room with someone to whom the unthinkable has happened-- to be up close and personal with it-- is emotionally devastating. This is a true horror story beyond anything Stephen King could write, because this is "real." What happens to Vivian Bearing is something that happens to people all the time, and there has never been a film before or since that will put you more in touch with what it feels like, from the incredulity born at the moment of diagnosis to the acceptance of the reality of it. And it has nothing to do with courage; it is not about that at all. It's about knowing that you are going to have to do this thing that you least in the whole world want to do-- and that you have no choice in the matter.This film is a veritable showcase for the incredible talent of Emma Thompson, who gives a performance that is so remarkable there are not enough superlatives to do it justice. Ineligible for Oscar consideration as this film was made for television (HBO), her performance nevertheless is as Oscar worthy as they come (even more impressive than her Oscar winning performance as Margaret in "Howard's End," which was nothing less than a study in perfection). As Vivian Bearing, Thompson is absolutely mesmerizing-- you simply cannot take your eyes off of her for even a moment. There are times when you want to look away, to avert your eyes because it's just too painful to watch, but you can't. Once you begin this journey you are bound to her for better or worse. You suffer with her through the physical pain, as well as through the base indignities to which she is subjected as a matter of course by the doctors and care givers who simply do not respond to the humanity of the person in their care; a sad commentary, to be sure, but so true.What really marks Thompson's performance as so extraordinary, however, is the fact that as you watch the drama unfold, you forget this is an actor playing a role; rather, this is a very real person you are watching-- a person named Vivian Bearing who is dying of cancer.The supporting cast includes Eileen Atkins (E.M. Ashford), Audra McDonald (Susie), Jonathan M. Woodward (Jason) and Harold Pinter (Vivian's Father). An emotionally absorbing drama that redefines empathy and compassion, "Wit" will make you feel alive like never before, and thankful for each and every day that you wake up healthy. It's a film that will enrich your life.

Very entertaining

Wit offers a sharply observed portrait of a professor of 17th Century poetry who is diagnosed with 4th stage ovarian cancer. There is no 5th stage, as she wryly observes. Dr. Vivian Bearing (brilliantly played by Emma Thompson) has spent her life studying the poetry of John Donne, to great scholarly acclaim. Yet in the final chapter of her life, she finds that she has never really engaged the poetry that has been her life's work. Until now, that is.One would think that such a subject matter would be utterly depressing. Yet, it is oddly full of hope. And that is the genius of the film.Donne's poetry is overtly referred to throughout the film. Yet in the scenes in which Bearing recalls her lectures on the subject, one learns little about the poetry. Donne's attempt to grapple with death is discussed in a superficial way by the characters. But the film's deeper meaning comes directly from Donne's writing.Dr. Bearing has lived her life as woman who uses her intellectual prowess to avoid meaningful connections with people. As a result, she undergoes her long and painful illness with no companionship. Donne's famous line that "no man is an island" comes immediately to mind. When one turns to the meditation which is its source, one finds the following:"When one Man dies, one Chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every Chapter must be so translated; God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice, but God's hand is in every translation; and his hand shall bind up all our scattered leaves again, for that Library where every book shall lie open to one another."Wit is about Bearing's "translation." She has worn the mask of intellectual self-sufficiency for her whole life. In her illness, every shred of her self-dignity is stripped away. She loses her hair; she is treated as an object by the medical system; she suffers pain; and finally she confronts her death. The beauty of the film is that by the end, she has lost everything that she thought mattered to her - only to find that it doesn't matter at all. In losing her self-dignity, she has found the genuine dignity that belongs to us all by virtue of our humanity. Her death is not empty suffering, but rather a fitting conclusion to her life - as she finally absorbs the meaning of the poetry that has been her life's work.We come to care deeply for a woman who is not very likeable. In doing so, we come to see the connection that we all share as human beings.Wit is an extraordinary film. One of the best that I have seen in the last few years.

I stumbled upon this movie by accident while flipping through channels one lazy day. This isn't the sort of movie I typically watch, as I'm not just real drawn to dramas or anything overly heavy and depressing. I usually gravitate to the TV when I need something light-hearted, some mental down time or am in the mood for a weekend horror marathon.Something of Emma's face, when my eyes landed on it, arrested my attention. I was captivated by her portrayal of a woman diagnosed with and dying from ovarian cancer. The plot has been summarized before, so I'll just tell you how it made me FEEL.I felt I had a better understanding of the fear someone in her situation feels. I felt overwhelming empathy for what it is to look back on your life with regret in your final days, when nothing can be done to go back in time and live your life differently. I felt the merciless cold of what it would be to die without family or friends at your side. I felt the uselessness of her wit to spare her from her suffering and death, or to become the arms she desperately needed wrapped around her during her last months of life.Emma is spectacular in her role as the unfeeling, off-putting, robotic, intellectual elitist who comes too late to know what it is to really feel the absence of humanity and love in her life. The cancer that is robbing her of her life is a terrible sight made worse by the inhumanity of the healthcare system. For me what was worse than her physical pain from her cancer was watching someone die completely and utterly alone.Before you watch Wit, think of something fun you'll do afterwards. You'll need it.Trust me.

Dvd arrivato in ottimo stato. Sia materialmente che visivamente. Film molto sottovalutato tra l’altro. Ma dovrebbe essere un Must Have

Lo DVD no funciona em Portugal

Se la regalé a una amiga y le gustó mucho, muy buena compra

この作品は好きな作品なので購入しましたが、私の持っている機器では再生できず残念でした

'Wit' ist die Verfilmung eines gleichnamigen Einpersonenstücks von Margaret Edson. Dieses wurde 1995 uraufgeführt und hat 4 Jahre später den Pulitzer Preis gewonnen. Im Jahre 2001 wurde das Stück vom amerikanischen Kabelsender HBO verfilmt, dieser Film mit Emma Thompson in der Hauptrolle gewann im selben Jahr einen Emmy. Leider hat er es nie über die Grenzen der amerikanischen Fernsehausstrahlung hinaus geschafft - verdient hätte er es allemal. So kommt es, dass er nur in Englisch erhältlich ist und hierzulande einen echten Geheimtipp für niveauvolle und kritische Fernsehunterhaltung darstellt. Das Wort 'Unterhaltung' trifft die Wahrheit dabei je nach Nervenstärke des Sehers unter Umständen nicht ganz.Die äußere Handlung ist schnell erzählt: Vivian Bearing, eine angesehene Professorin für englische Literatur, erhält (in der ersten Szene, im ersten Satz) die Diagnose Eierstockkrebs im fortgeschrittenen Stadium. Ihr Arzt schlägt ihr vor eine experimentelle und hoch aggressive Chemotherapie zu versuchen, worauf sich Vivian ohne lange zu überlegen auch einlässt. Im Rest des Films passiert 'nichts weiter' als die Behandlung ihres Krebsleidens im Krankenhaus. Sie begegnet dabei Ärzten, Studenten und einer sehr einfühlsamen Schwester, die für sie eine wichtige Bezugsperson wird. Dazwischen dürfen wir in einigen Rückblenden auch etwas aus der Vergangenheit der Protagonistin sehen, und sie dabei ein Stück besser kennen lernen.Die äußere Handlung ist einfach, aber um Äußerlichkeiten geht es nicht in diesem Film. Es geht nicht um spektakuläre Wendungen in der Geschichte oder um Spezialeffekte. Dieser Film erzählt in geradezu dokumentarischer Art eine Wahrheit - ohne Schminke, ohne Schnörkel. Er lässt uns in minutenlangen Kameraeinstellungen teilhaben an der Gedankenwelt einer todkranken Frau und zeigt uns in ebenso langen Einstellungen mit aller Brutalität ihr körperliches und seelisches Leid. Er zeigt das Leben eines Patienten im Krankenhaus so wie es (zum Teil) wirklich ist, und er zeigt Typen von Ärzten die es so wirklich gibt. Letztere werden im Übrigen bei näherer Betrachtung durchaus ambivalent dargestellt, also nicht nur gut oder nur böse. Der Fokus liegt aber immer auf der Erzählung aus der Sicht der Protagonistin, untermalt in perfekter Symbiose mit Versen des englischen Literaten John Donne - das Spezialgebiet und das Feld der Begeisterung von Viviana Bearing.Die Hauptdarstellerin, Emma Thompson, vollbringt dabei eine wahre Meisterleistung. Ich habe ohne Übertreibung noch nie eine solch überzeugende schauspielerische Darbietung gesehen. Wenn man es nicht besser wüsste, man könnte glauben sie würde das Gespielte wirklich durchleben. Wäre der Film im Kino gelaufen, dann hätte Frau Thompson für ihre Leistung mit Sicherheit einen Oscar bekommen.Für wen ist dieser Film nun empfehlenswert? Wie zu Beginn angedeutet ganz allgemein für all jene, die Filme mögen welche zum nachdenken anregen, auch wenn sie schwer oder sogar sehr schwer zu verdauen sind. Im Speziellen ist er für all jene empfehlenswert, die sich mit dem Thema Sterben und Tod - aus welchen Gründen auch immer - befassen wollen. Er ist zu empfehlen für all jene, die im Verwandten- oder Freundeskreis jemanden haben der eine Chemotherapie über mehrere Zyklen hinter sich gebracht hat. Insbesondere ist er meiner ganz persönlichen Ansicht nach Pflichtprogramm für alle im Krankenhaus arbeitenden Berufsgruppen. Letztlich bin auch ich so vor einigen Jahren über diesen Film gestolpert, und dafür bin ich bis heute sehr dankbar. 5/5 Sternen.