MS WHITE LIGHT

US, 2019, 97 minutes, Colour.

Roberta Colindrez, Zachary Spicer, John Ortiz, Judith Light, Carson Meyer.

Directed by Paul Shoulberg.

White light? Light at the end of the tunnel? Death experiences? The answer is, yes, but not in the way we might have expected.

This drama introduces us to a care industry (perhaps that sounds like an oxymoron). It seems a particularly American thing – it would be interesting to know whether other countries employ members of a company to be present for the dying of a family member, the members of the family unwilling or unable to accompany the dying person. We are left in no doubt with the opening of the film, Lex Cordova (a striking and sometimes bewildering Roberta Colindrez) sitting by the bedside of an dying elderly lady. The family sit by, sad. Then Lex vehemently criticises the members of the family for their lack of care and empathy – and she is punched out for her trouble. Where is this going?

Lex Cordova is certainly an interesting character to watch. At times, she seems to be on the spectrum, so objective and detached she seems in her manner, way of blunt speaking. We guess that there has been a trauma in her life – which comes to the surface towards the end of the film. Lex works with her father, John Ortiz, in an office which has a spare desk and the father wonders whether they should have a secretary. Father and daughter dress in the same kind of suit. They have their takeaway meals watching television. Clients are somewhat scarce.

Lex is challenged by having to accompany a 17-year-old dying from a blood disorder, Nora (Carson Meyer). With her great faith in samurai traditions and weapons, Nora matches Lex’s bluntness with bluntness. Nora will appear again, taking over the management of the office, continually challenging Lex.

However, the core of the film is Lex attending an elderly woman, Val, who has led rather a wildlife, never bound down, drugs, a free spirit, played with intensity by Judith Light, the audience really believing that they are seeing this dying woman rather than an actress. Val is a great challenge to Lex who has some moments of bewilderment. And this is complicated when she encounters Spencer (Zachary Spicer) who also attends the dying, claiming to be some kind of a medium putting the dying person in touch with characters from the past. Actually Val employs quite a number of assistants to her dying, even some of the staff who play cards with her. So, serious moments, comic moments. And situations becoming more and more complicated with Spencer.

It is healthy to see a film dealing with some of the realities of death, hospitals, professional staff, the reactions/superficial reactions of family, challenges to family and their care and lack of care. And, the experiences of death, the loneliness, and the effect of the presence of someone close.

Lex is such a complicated character, bewildering the audience at times, but drawing us deeper into her own responses, her own life and questions, the realities of being alive, and the realities of dying.

(The writer-director of this film, Paul Shoulberg, made the very interesting, little seen, The Good Catholic, a blend of comedy and drama about life in the rectory, three priests and their ministry as well is personal crises.)

1. The title? Expectations? Death?
2. The settings, hospitals, death beds, the office, hospital canteen, interiors? The musical score? Songs and lyrics throughout?
3. The introduction, Lex, at the death bed, of the family watching, her words, the cards? The death, her change of attitude, bluntness, telling of the family, punching her?
4. Her father and setting up the company, her talent being present with people dying? Not always evident? The office, the desk, issue of the secretary? The bond between father and daughter, similar suits, travelling together, the car, his care for her? The absent mother – and the explanations later in the film and the effect on Lex?
5. The further death beds and her manner? Going to Norah? Nora at 17, the cancer, her theories about Japan, traditions, swords, martial arts, codes of behaviour? Interactions with Lex? Challenging Lex?
6. The credibility of the company, being hired to be present to deaths, families and friends unable to cope, avoiding the issues? Lex and her collecting the files, studying them, preparing her cards for responses? Yet her sense of presence, both reassuring and challenging?
7. Val, her age, single, active life, drugs, the cancer? The variety of people coming in, the staff playing cards, Spencer is a medium? Lex, reluctant, the conversations, Val and her manner, humour, continually challenging, the pizza, the discussions, Lex beginning and affection for Val?
8. The encounter with Spencer, her staring, his response, her abruptness? Learning of what he did? Seeing him in action? The further encounters, the clashes? His inviting her out, conversation, urging her to visit Val, the pizza in his lap, the kiss and its effect?
9. Norah, her recovery, appearing at the firm, wanting to help, tidying the office, coffee and bagels? Acting a secretary, joining the family? Her motivations, her codes? Prompting Lex, discussions with her? Lex and irritation, yet listening? Norah hospital, her death? The aftermath of the funeral?
10. Val, her death? The effect? Reminders of her mother, with her father, the discussions, the office without Norah?
11. The discussion with the couple, Lex trying to explain, Spencer present, his intervening, the explanations… And the future?