GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY

US, 2009, 86 minutes, Colour.
Cuba Gooding Jr, Kimberley Elise, Aunjanue Ellis.
Directed by Thomas Carter.

Gifted Hands is the story of Dr Ben Carson, an African- American surgeon who is well respected at Johns Hopkins Hospital and gained an international reputation, especially with his technique for separating Siamese twins joined at the head, a case in the mid-1980s in Germany which he brought to a successful conclusion.

This case gives some drama to the film but most of the story takes the audience back to the 1960s, Ben failing at school, bullied, needing glasses to read properly, getting courage from his mother and teachers, especially her getting her two sons to watch less television and to read. They read voraciously, also acquire great general knowledge and love for classical music. Ben had some moments of rebellion at high school, mixing with the wrong crowd, but eventually went to medical school, met his musician wife, marriage and had a family and progress steadily in school and in his surgical practice.

The film makes much of his stepping in when all surgeons were absent at a conference and bringing difficult surgery to success, taking the risk of losing his licence to practise and praised for taking the initiative in the circumstances.

This is a very substantial role for Cuba Gooding Jr, Oscar-winner for Jerry Maguire, but who has spent a lot of his career making quite a number of straight-to-DVD thrillers. Aunjanue Ellis is very sympathetic as the boy’s mother.

1. A true story? An edifying and hope-filled story?

2. The 1960s to the 21st century? African Americans in American society? The civil rights era? Education, opportunities? The possibility for anyone to do anything – but better?

3. Ben Carson, his family background, disabilities at school, the encouragement of his mother, reading, his brother and television quizzes, gathering information? High school, college, medical studies, internships, opportunities for surgery and for his gifted hands? Rise, reputation? Achievement? An example for others?

4. The opening, the situation in Germany, the Siamese twins, joined at the head? The distraught parents? The focus on the twins, lying in bed, joined, their being fed? The request to Dr Carson, his going to Germany, prognosis, what was available in the mid-1980s?

5. The film leaving the 1980s situation and going back to Ben’s childhood?

6. The two boys, their ages, Ben at school, failing in exams, ridiculed by the others, urged on by his mother, his brother? His having to get glasses? reading better? Improving with the tests, the encouragement of the teacher? His mother, her hard work, tired?

7. The mother going to the doctor, her mental condition, the story of her husband with the other family, the separation, bringing up the children as a single mother? The need to go to the institution, entrusting the boys to care, her time away, her improving health? Her getting the job with the professor, the library, the admiration for books, the professor teaching her to read?

8. Her encouraging her sons to read, to watch less television? The impact of the reading? Ben and his information about rocks and stones, the encouragement of the teacher? The quizzes, general information? The need to know more about art and music? Love for classical music? Ben and his desire to be a doctor?

9. Going to school, mixing with the wrong group, tough, becoming rebellious, angry with his mother, his temper?

10. Going to medical school, his future wife, the violin, love of music? His confidence, yet his diffidence?

11. Becoming a doctor, the interview with the doctor, the love of music, his being accepted, his critical stances? The staff at the hospital? The situation, the man bleeding, no doctors available, his taking the risk, performing the operation – and the admiration of the supervising doctor and commending him for his initiative?

12. The years passing, his expertise, his gifted hands? The support of his wife? His children? His mother?

13. Studying the situation in Germany, trying to find a solution, the nature of the bleeding, the suggestion of stopping the heart for an hour, disconnecting the heads?

14. The tension of the operation, over 24 hours, the detail, the surgery, the precision of the team, so many people in the surgery? The success? The gratitude of the parents?

15. A heartwarming story, and encouraging story?