The Fall (2006) & The Young Doctors (1961)
Nathan McBride
Two character-driven dramas set in hospitals.
The Fall (2006; DailyMotion)
A young actor seriously injured in a stunt fall is charmed by a mischievous four-year-old Romanian girl into inventing epic fantasy stories. I watched this movie at a friend’s recommendation (thanks Tom—I see you here on the subscriber list!). I usually wouldn’t have given it a try, and it might not be your thing. It’s not my typical recommendation because it has some violent images and themes and other brief adult content. But it’s just beautiful. As famous film critic Roger Ebert declares, the movie is “beautiful for its own sake.” It was filmed in 28 different countries for the epic fantasy segments, and they tell me that none of the stunning landscapes or sets involve computer-generated imagery.
But just as beautiful as the movie’s visuals is its heart. Like It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) or Wild Horses (1998), it delves into genuine despair (hence the violent content) to bring you out on the other side grateful for love, for life, for hope. The long conversations between the patient and the young actress are delightful. Sometimes they feel improvised, not least due to the girl’s only partial grasp of English. (As the director recounts, “She was six, but if she didn’t speak the language she would be using, the misunderstanding would buy me the two years that I needed. Because she had to seem four.”) I often find myself asking “What?” like she does in that scene where he tries to explain what the Eucharist is (if you watch nothing else, watch that scene, at minute 35:45-37:05). Charming. You need that charm and genuine love to buoy you up when the movie gets emotionally intense. It’s stunning.
For sensitive viewers: Discretion advised. Serious subject matter and emotional intensity. Dream-like images. See imdb Parents Guide if you want more details.
The Young Doctors (1961; Amazon Prime)
A young doctor (Ben Gazzara) brings new methods that clash with the casual, senior doctor (Fredric March). The excellent acting includes two more names you may recognize, Dick Clark and Eddie Albert. It has been several years since I saw this one, but it sticks with me. There is no substitute for the age-old conflict between the young up-start and the traditional but experienced professional. The older doctor goes out to the hallway to smoke, and the young doctor questions how he can break the rules like this. One has the smarts, the other has the bedside manner. It’s the battle between idealism and practicality, between head and heart.
The scene I remember most vividly is a father (Dick Clark) standing over his newborn son. The infant is in an incubator, on the horizon’s edge between death and life. The father is speaking to him in love, to give him courage, strength, hope. We all need that voice in our own lives.
For sensitive viewers: Smoking. Discussion of medical issues and surgery.
But, what was this month’s theme?
It may have been misleading, because the theme only showed up in one film per week. (I tried to make the other films match mini-themes each week, like hospitals this week or faith last week.) The theme for this month was that the old movies featured the actor Fredric March. Because, March…
Next month, films about caring for the earth and one another!
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