Of fighting and letting go

Films about serious, possibly fatal cancers are a challenge in many respects: especially for the filmmakers, who always have to deal with their subject in a very consciously reflective, at the same time sensitive and cautious way, but no less so for the audience, since it inevitably involves scenes that one would not actually want to experience in a film, let alone in real life. And yet, sometimes there is no other way. Then it is good and right that films also approach the "unspeakable", the quickly repressed and concealed: Yes, here is an illness that can end fatally, and yes, it must be dealt with. If possible, as intensely grieving as sincere, respectful and in solidarity.