FLATLINERS
US, 2017, 110 minutes, Colour.
Ellen Page, Diego Luna, Nina Dobrev, James Norton, Kiersey Clemons, Kiefer Sutherland.
Directed by Niels Arden Oplev.
Flatliners is doing two things. In the first part, it is something of a horror film. In the second part it is a moralising story, something of a cautionary tale. It is also a remake of the popular film of 1990 which featured amongst others, Julia Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon. (A link is Kiefer Sutherland here turning up for a cameo as a disciplinarian supervising doctor, with white hair and a walking stick!)
This time the story is set in Toronto. The focus is on a group of doctors in training – and, judging by their behaviour, there is something of a risk to our future health unless they really improve their attitudes and standards. Being responsible isn’t high on their personal agendas.
The first person we are introduced to it is Courtney, played by Ellen Page, driving with her sister, distracted by her mobile phone, and crashing into a truck with the consequent death of her sister drowning in the river. Nine years later, she is part of the group of trainee doctors, more skilled than the rest of the group.
The most responsible of the rest of the group is Ray, Diego Luna, who knows his medicine but is drawn into the plan that Courtney develops, with her studies about afterlife, with her theory that were someone to have their heart stopped for a minute, to flatline, then brain activity could be checked and photographed. She makes demands on Jamie, played by James Norton far away from Grantchester and his rather edifying presence there, this time a too happy-go-lucky medical student. She also persuades her friend, Sophia, Kiersey Clemons, who is finding studies very difficult.
They do the experiment and we share Courtney’s after death or near death experience, walking in cosmic lights, rapt. It is easy to see where the plot development will take us, the other two, then their friend Marlo (Nina Dobrev) not only wanting to undergo the same experience but extending the time when the heart is stopped.
Clearly, there will be consequences – and, in fact, a sharpening and alertness of memories, knowledge, self-assertion.
But, some of the experiences are nightmarish. And, each of the subjects has something very worrying in their past, ghosts and hauntings surfacing, strange and unwanted experiences.
Which means then that the group has to face each individual conscience challenge, going back into the past, acknowledging the truth. And the question is: at the point of death is there some kind of what we might call “judgement�? And, in a secular perspective, without any benefit God, how can conscience be healed? Is forgiveness possible? Does each person who acknowledges their guilt have to forgive themselves?
So, these are some of the questions that the audience is left with as they leave the cinema and wonder whether flatlining is possible, wonder about the moral responsibilities of the medical profession, and wonder about personal responsibilities, forgiveness and reconciliation.
1. A film about dying? The afterlife? The effect on the brain, the soul, personality?
2. The Toronto settings, the hospital and the wards, the basement and equipment, apartments, clubs? Musical score?
3. The title, the explanation, the heart stopping, the equipment and signals? The equipment for revival? Brain activity, registered, photographed, studied?
4. The characters, their age, experience, their meetings, supervision and the strictness of the doctor, their ignorance in answers? The demands on them in the hospital? Responsibilities/irresponsibility? Living the high life? Extravagant, drinking, sexual relationships?
5. The group, friendship, cohesion, the relationships?
6. Courtney, the opening, her driving, her sister, the phone, the crash, into the river? The later visualisation, the crash, in the water, Courtney escaping, her sister’s death, the rescue?
7. Courtney, nine years later, her work, study, in the library, reading up afterlife? With Sophia, as a mentor? The issue of the experiment, the request to Sophia, to Jamie, the basement, the equipment, the plan? Her undergoing the experience, heart stopping, the fears, the equipment, panic, Jamie, Ray arriving, helping, the revival?
8. The aftermath, talking about the experience, Courtney and the cosmic energy, her walking through the lights? The change, her being more alert, playing the piano?
9. Jamie, his background, rather carefree? His wanting to undergo the experience? His heart stopping, the story of the girl, her confront him, the abortion, his sense of guilt? His background story, the girlfriend, his fears are not accompanying her to the abortion, his life on his boat, being haunted?
10. Marlo and Ray, the relationship, going home, the sexual encounter? Marlo, heart stopping for longer, the monstrous experience, her fear? The story, the dead man, the drugs, the falsifying the documents?
11. Sophia, her story, relationship with her mother, studies, finding memorising material difficult? The mother wanting her at home, her walking out on her mother? Undergoing the death experience, the memories of school, the rival girl, the photos, circulating them?
12. Courtney, her being haunted, fall to her death?
13. The meetings, sharing their fears? The timing and getting out before the cleaners arrived?
14. Sophia, tracking down the girl, at her workplace, the explanation, the apology, the girl moving on, yet turning to forgive severe?
15. Jamie, seeking out the girl, the encounter, discovering her son?
16. Marlo, talking with Ray, his ethical reaction? Telling the truth? Being on probation?
17. The film becoming a cautionary tale after horror elements? The nature of apology and forgiveness? Telling the truth? And the message about being able to forgive oneself?
