WHO IS JULIA?

US, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Mare Winningham, Jameson Parker, Bert Remsen, Jeffrey De Munn, Jonathan Banks.
Directed by Walter Grauman.

Who Is Julia is an arresting American telemovie. Its style is like that of all other telemovies about social, moral and medical issues. However, the implications of this story run far deeper.

The basic kernel of the plot is a brain transplant. This raises the issue: if it can be done, should it be done? A young woman is killed, run over as she tries to save a young child. At the same moment the child's mother collapses with a brain tumour. The physicians at a local hospital have a plan for a brain transplant and go ahead to get the necessary permissions. The result is that the body of the mother of the child is then able to be used for the unaffected brain of the woman knocked down by the truck. Who is Julia?

The film shows the trauma of the identity of Julia, waking up in a foreign body. Her husband has to learn to accept her, even though she looks like another woman. The husband of Mary Frances (the woman who died) gives permission because of Julia saving his son. However, he still believes that the living woman is his wife. He has to come to terms with this.

The film is interesting in its presentation of the woman, her getting over the trauma. It is interesting in the emotional repercussions for husbands and family. It is also interesting in questions of medical ethics and the psychological consequences.

1.Interesting and entertaining telemovie? The plausibility of the plot? Of the medical processes for brain transplant? Questions of personality?

2.The American locations, the worlds of the two women? Affluent and poor? The hospital sequences? Audiences identifying with characters and issues? Musical score?

3.The title and the focus on personal identity? The identity of the person with the brain? The body as a shell for the live brain? The brain controlling the rest of the person? The psychological repercussions of a brain in an alien body?

4.The focus on Mary Frances, with her little boy, the Santa Claus sequence, her own illness, the boy wandering off, her collapse? Her death?

5.Julia and her world, the beautiful and glamorous woman, her relationship with Don, his work, her own hopes for having a family? Her concern about the little boy, giving her life? Her unaffected brain?

6.The medical staff, their preparations, their moral stances, their scientific stances? The possibility of such a transplant - and how thoroughly had they thought of the consequences? The urgency of the time, the nature of the donor body? The permission from Jack, his reluctance, his learning that Timmy was saved by Julia, his consent? Don and his not being able to be reached? Permissions and the performing of the operation?

7.Julia and her coma, coming to consciousness, the efforts of the medical staff to bring her round? The active brain, the discovery of the body? The therapy with the sympathetic doctor? Julia and her growing dependence on him? Acceptance of her body, transforming herself? The encounters with Don? Her readiness to go home, Don's not accepting her? Going through the motions at home and the effect on her? Meeting Loni and her reaction? Her going to the doctor for support? The clashes with Don? Her wanting time by herself? The encounter with Jack, his wanting to abduct her? Their discussions? Her making him see that Mary Frances was dead? Her return home and her ability to make a new life?

8.Don, his work, commercials, Loni, love for his wife, the plan for the family? The news of the accident? At her side, helping her to come round? His acceptance and non-acceptance? With her, the incidents and home, the dress, not admitting she was Julia? The sexual relationship and her hesitance? His anger, the reconciliation?

9.Jack, devotion to his wife, to his son? Distraught, the revulsion of the idea, his change of heart? His going into the hospital, intruding without permission? His not accepting that Mary Frances was dead? Wanting to see Julia, planning to abduct her, his plea? His having to see that Mary Frances was dead?

10.Dr Matthews and his staff, the range of officials in the hospital, the discussions of the board, the performance of the operation, the repercussions? The behaviour of the medical staff? Their preparedness to help Julia? Their inabilities? Dr Matthews and the transference and his coping with it?

11.Science and science fiction? This glossy telemovie style used for the dramatising of a profound medical ethical situation and its consequences?