THE C- WORD
UK, 2015, 90 minutes, Colour.
Sheridan Smith, Paul Nicholls, Michael Maloney, Haydn Gwynne.
Directed by Tim Kirkby.
The C Word is based on a book and a blog by Lisa Lynch. It is a true story.
Sheridan Smith appears as Lisa Lynch, a woman in her late 20s, recently married, working, but diagnosed with breast cancer. The film traces the diagnosis, her work with the doctor, surgery, chemotherapy, recovery from chemotherapy, a period of calm before the cancer recurs.
In order to cope with her experiences, she starts a blog, finds that she is a good writer, also finds that writing is a wonderful outlet to help her cope with her cancer experiences – and that many readers find her blog very helpful, especially women suffering from breast cancer, sharing their experiences with her.
The film shows very directly the effects of chemotherapy, breast surgery and new construction, hair falling out, wigs… She is very well supported by her devoted husband, Paul Nicholls. Her father is a quiet man and is also supportive, a touch of the stoic, while her mother is immediately highly emotionally affected but is also a support.
Sheridan Smith is effective in the central role, making Lisa Lynch credible in all these aspects of her life, and in her illness and the time leading up to her death.
The screenplay makes the point that her book, The C Word, was of enormous help not only to the women suffering from cancer but also for their carers.
1. The title? Cancer? Responses to diagnosis of cancer, by the patient, by spammers, by family, by friends? The role of doctors, surgeons, nurses, anaesthetist, counsellors?
2. The film based on the book and blog by Lisa Lynch? A bestseller and strong influence, especially for women, women with breast cancer, carers, family, therapists?
3. The British setting, families and homes, workplaces, hospitals, therapists?
4. The importance of the blog, Lisa starting it, her skill in writing, as a therapy for her thoughts and feelings, its being read by many people, by her parents, responders to the blog, people make themselves known?
5. Audience response to Lisa experience, of illness, diagnosis, chemotherapy, after maths, the recurring of the disease, final coping? Audiences identifying with her?
6. Sheridan Smith as Lisa? Age, personality, the love for Peter, their life together, the video of the wedding ceremony? To the Dr, the diagnosis, her response, calm? Her reaction to her parents and their concern? Her wanting to be ready for her brother’s wedding? The information about chemotherapy, the progress and the doses, the reaction, losing her hair, checking on the weeks, going to the shop, the diarrhoea and the physical effect, her moods, the effect of writing the blog?
7. Peter, his character, love to his wife, his work, some time off, his continued accompaniment? Reaction to the men at work? His comment about always boiling the kettle? With Lisa’s parents? With blog fans? Meetings in restaurants, photos? The final diagnosis, is asking for time off, and his accompanying Lisa to the wedding and their enjoyment of it? The strong character, commitment and love?
8. The glimpse of the parents, their concern about Lisa, the visits, the father calm, the mother and her being upset, the support of the brother? The parents in their continued visits, working, being present? The wedding and its enjoyment?
9. Lisa, her friends, the discussions about the cancer, the friend who was frank in talking about it?
10. The Dr, always sympathetic, sound advice, encouragement, the x-rays and the cancer under control, its return? The staff at the hospital and their support? The visit to the therapist, sympathetic, her recommending the book, her reaction on discovering Lisa had written it? Lisa’s further visits and being able to talk to the therapist?
11. The recurrence, the treatment, the effect on Lisa, her listlessness, listening to her advisers, with Peter, her parents? The blog? Finding the moment of trans formation? The moments of peace and the outing with Peter and the Sun? Her gradual decline?
12. The death of her friend from the blog, meeting with the other women, the toasts, the talk, the support?
13. The final information about her death and its sadness?
