THE TERRY FOX STORY

Canada, 1983, 97 minutes, Colour.
Eric Fryer, Robert Duvall, Chris Makepeace, Rosalind Chao.
Directed by Ralph L.Thomas.

The Terry Fox Story is a Canadian film directed by R.L. Thomas (Ticket to Heaven). It is based on a true story, Terry Fox, a young man who develops cancer in the leg and who has his leg amputated. A sportsman, he decides to run across America to raise money for the Cancer Society. He runs a great deal of the way before cancer reappears in his lungs and he dies. Eric Fry is quite good as Terry Fox - not just a picture of niceness, an abrasive young man, concerned about himself as well as charity, using others and growing in awareness of selflessness as he makes his run. Robert Duvall appears as a contact person with the Cancer Society. There are guest appearances by Canadian stars including Saul Rubinek as the doctor, Chris Makepeace as Terry Fox's brother.

The film is one of those heart-warming and inspiring movies - not just mere sentiment, some abrasive scenes as well, which makes it more realistic. However, there is also a repetitiveness as we see Terry running/stumbling his way across Canada.

1.An inspiring and true story? Terry Fox in himself? Cancer? His witness to the struggle against cancer?

2.Canadian production: settings, locations across the country? The beauty of Canada? The people? Musical score?

3.The title and the focus on Terry, his suffering, his goals, achievement?

4.The portrait of Terry Fox: the credits and his playing basketball, friendship with Doug, his relationship with his family? The incident and his leg, the news of the amputation? The treatment, his loss of hair? The artificial limb? Becoming normal again - and wanting to move out from the institution? Friendship with Rika, going out with her, then leaving her (but later phoning her)? His decision to run, practise? The antagonism of his mother, support of his father? His friendship with dog, the planning, inviting him? Going to the east and the plan to run home to the west? His being sponsored by the Cancer Society? The beginnings of the run, its effect on him? The argument with Doug, his selfishness, using him as a servant? The tribute to him in the speech? The wear and tear, the bleeding, his cough? Bill and Darryl and their arrival, their support? Bill's concern, the program? The people meeting Terry on the side of the road, the official receptions? His inspiring people - the woman who talked about her son, the small boy with his loss of hair, teaching him how to swim? Growing illness, going to hospital? The new cancer? His death? His short life, growth in self-awareness, appreciation of others, the fight against cancer, inspiration?

5.Doug, his friendship, his being used? Servant, reacting, the clash? The speech and the reconciliation? Darryl and his support?

6.Bill, the organisation, pushing Terry? Meeting people? Listening to the talks, being inspired? His concern in the final illness? His final comments?

7.The sketch of the parents, the shock of the amputation? The fight amongst them all, Terry's run, the mother's hostility? Later support?

8.Rika, her friendship, work for the handicapped? Going out with Terry, his selfish attitudes towards her, reliance on her, telling her of the news of the cancer?

9.The people in the hospital, their support? Doctors?

10.The people and their support, across Canada?

11.An inspiring story? The value of the sign and the symbol, the witness? Courage?