SOMETHING THE LORD MADE

US, 2004, 110 minutes, Colour.

Alan Rickman, Mos Def, Mary Stuart Masterson, Kyra Sedgwick, Gabrielle Union, Merritt Weaver, Clayton La Boeuf, Charles S. Dutton.

Directed by Joseph Sargent.

Something the Lord Made is recommended viewing.

This is one of the best films that one could see about surgery, surgery in close-up, the role of the surgeons, the preparation, knowledge, research, the detail of the surgery itself, meticulous. While there was experimentation with animals, the focus of the film eventually is surgery on a “Blue Baby”, the first operation on the heart, where cardiac surgery was considered impossible. It took place at John’s Hopkins in Baltimore in the early 1940s.

This is also a strong film about race issues in the United States, the reality of segregation, the humiliation of the African-Americans, the assumed arrogance of some white people, the arrogance which was taken for granted.

The film opens in Nashville in 1930, focusing on the work of Dr Alfred Blaylock. He is portrayed in his always effective manner by Alan Rickman (filming between some of the Harry Potter films at the time). The central character, however, is a young African-American, Vivian Thomas, wanting to be a doctor, saving for college, skilled as a carpenter. He has the opportunity to meet Dr Blaylock, impresses the doctor by his knowledge, practical skills. They were to work together for over 30 years. He is played by Mos Def, the most affecting performance from the singer and entertainer.

The film also offers some background of the Thomas family, Charles S.Dutton as the patriarch, reminiscing about his grandfather as a slave who was freed. There is also Vivian’s brother, chip on shoulder, teacher, eventually involved in lawsuits for the betterment of teachers’ situations. Gabrielle union plays Vivian’s wife, Clara.

The film then transitions to Baltimore 1943, the atmosphere of war, Johns Hopkins where Dr Blaylock has been appointed in charge of surgery. He has brought Vivian with him. However, Vivian experiences the racism at the hospital as he did in the south, unable to enter the front door, clocking in, class C classification for wages, having to do repairs for the landlord to pay his rent, living in poor accommodation with his wife and children, the butt of comment – and of disbelief by some of the hospital staff.

However, Vivian is skilled in his knowledge, in the bond with Dr Blaylock, despite Dr Blaylock losing his temper and having to apologise, their working together on the project of heart surgery and the breakthrough.

The film spends quite an amount of time in the preparation for the surgery, helping audiences to understand the intricacies of the risks, and the operation itself where Vivian is not present at Dr Blaylock pages him and brings him in to help walking through the surgery.

The racism continues with Life Magazine photographing only the doctors, Vivian not included. The same happens with the segregated dinner, no mention of Vivian, Vivian dismayed and offering his resignation, trying to go to college but asked to begin right at the beginning of the course, going back to Dr Blaylock.

The payoff for everyone, and for audience emotion, is the tribute to Vivian at the end – after an interesting collage of what happened in the US after the end of the war, throughout the 1950s, into the 1960s, race issues, Martin Luther King, the assassination of JF Kennedy, the Vietnam war, where Vivian is presented with an honorary doctorate by Johns Hopkins and his portrait is unveiled, hanging on the wall adjacent to that of Dr Blaylock who died in 1964.

The film has a close-up of the two portraits, transitions into the two actual portraits, Vivian dying in 1985. The significant African-American character of the 20^th century and his contribution to surgery and medicine.

1. The title? Dr Blaylock’s comment about Vivian’s expertise and work? The surgery and participating in God’s creative work?
2. A true story, audience knowledge of Dr Blaylock and Vivian Thomas? Their work in Nashville, at Johns Hopki to’s and ns, the breakthrough with heart surgery, ultimate acclaim, portraits in the hospital?
3. A film about surgery, audiences able to understand the role of the surgeon, skills, knowledge, accuracy, research, laboratory assistants? The achievement in the 20^th century, heart surgery, “Blue Babies”? The consequences and the millions of such operations taken for granted after that?
4. A film about racism, segregation in the South, African-Americans standing back to let white people pass, their passing without acknowledgement? Neighbourhoods, comparative poverty, hardships? Separate entries, in the buses at the back, separate toilets…? Not being able to enter the front of a hospital? The consequences for African Americans? In the 1930s? Transition to the 1940s, from the South to Maryland, regulations within Johns Hopkins to the detriment of African-Americans, lower classifications on pay? Their being almost invisible in the public arena?
5. Vivian Thomas and his story, his family in the south, grandfather slave and freed? His father and his recounting the stories? His brother, teacher, chip on shoulder, hard life, lawsuits? Vivian at his carpentry, wanting to go to college, to be a doctor, saving his money – then the run of the bank and his losing all his savings? His being introduced to Dr Blaylock, going for the interview, his knowledge, observations, Blaylock questioning, employing him?
6. Dr Blaylock, the background of his tuberculosis, regaining his life and wanting to do good for people? Surgery and breakthrough, experimentation on animals? The details, the close-ups, the laboratory, the equipment? His personal manner? Working with Vivian, for more than 12 years? The comment that he did not go to Detroit because they would not accept Vivian going?
7. Vivian, relationship with Clara, marriage, children? His knowledge, powers of observation, intelligence, making connections, sketching, closing his eyes because he knew the interior during surgery? Helping Dr Blaylock, the various breakthroughs, Blaylock sometimes peremptory with him? But needing him? Blowups, Vivian walking out, Dr Blaylock apologising?
8. The transition to 1943, the war experience, Dr Blaylock transferred to Johns Hopkins, taking Vivian with him? The move for the family, Clara and her finding it difficult, objections, but supporting Vivian? The children?
9. Vivian, going to Johns Hopkins, experiencing racism and segregation, not allowed in the front door, having to clock in, the doctor telling him to get donuts and coffee, suspicions, talking behind his back and saying nigger? His first being seen in Baltimore serving at the dinner, yet his medical comments and helping Dr Blaylock?
10. The work at Johns Hopkins, the research, Dr Helen Taussig, her manner, hearing aid, earnestness, the children, the blue babies? The parents? Introducing Dr Blaylock and Vivian? The hope to work for the blue babies? The detailed discussions, the diagrams, the theories, the heart, the blood flow, possibilities? The small hearts and the intricate work? The parents, with their child, to make a decision, Dr Blaylock explaining to the engineer about changing the work of the pipes? Their decision?
11. The parents going to discuss with the priest, his caution, not interfering with God’s will, his coming to see Dr Blaylock, the doctor saying he wanted to give life, the priest wanting to collaborate with God’s will that the baby should die?
12. Other members of the staff, attitude towards Dr Blaylock, towards Vivian? The young doctors, their interest, discussions with Vivian, working with him? Dr Blaylock in the request for doctors to share with the surgery? The volunteers? The wariness of the authorities? That it was impossible to do surgery on the heart?
13. Dr Blaylock, personal life, Mary, their children, her driving the vans for the veterans to hospital, her support, his reliance on her, the night before the surgery, unable to sleep?
14. Dr Blaylock and his reliance on Vivian, the first visit to the house and Clara’s reaction? Vivian, class C, the poor wage, having to do handiwork for the landlord to pay the rent, Dr Blaylock installing a phone? Getting him reclassified?
15. The surgery, the close-ups of the blue baby, Dr Blaylock, hesitant, preparing, entering, the doctors and the authorities of serving? The beginning? His hesitancy? Memories of Vivian and his ability to talk Dr Blaylock through the work?
16. Walking out, paging Vivian even though it was against the regulations to page anyone except doctors, Vivian hurrying, coming to the room, the details of his talking Dr Blaylock through the surgery, quiet, unassuming? Helen present, the blood pressure? The intricacies, the explanations, the blood flowing into the baby’s face? Success and achievement?
17. The aftermath, Vivian with Clara and delete and support? The contrast with Dr Blaylock, the photography for Life Magazine, with all the doctors, by himself, cover, no mention of Vivian? His going to the banquet, putting on the waiter’s clothes, no mention of him? The visit of the International doctors and his being introduced?
18. At home, upset, going to Dr Blaylock, leaving? Selling medications, the support of the doctor?
19. Going home to Nashville, the family reunion, his brother and his teaching life, his father and pride? Approaching the college, hoping to sit for exams, their demanding that he begin from the beginning?
20. Knowing that he really wanted to work in surgery, returning to Dr Blaylock, accepted? The possibility of the transfer to Columbia University? Vivian wanting to stay in Baltimore?
21. Dr Blaylock’s death? The visual collage of the 1940s, 1950s, changing US, into the 60s, JFK, Vietnam, Martin Luther King?
22. Vivian, continuing to work, the change in race relationships, entering the foyer by the front door?
23. The ceremony, his doctorate, the speeches, Helen, his speech, the unveiling of the portrait?
24. The two portraits in the foyer? The transition to the actual portraits? Vivian’s death in 1985? Achievement as a person, in surgery, in the achievement of an African-American and the world of medicine and surgery?