LEAP OF FAITH
US, 1988, 100 minutes, Colour.
Sam Neill, Anne Archer, Frances Lee Mc Cain, James Tolkan, C.C.H. Pounder, Michael Constantine.
Directed by Stephen Gylenhaal.
Leap of Faith is a strong television movie focusing on cancer, the diagnosis, the treatment, coping with the illness. It also advocates a holistic approach to treating people diagnosed with cancer.
The film has a very strong cast with Anne Archer and Sam Neill as husband and wife. It was directed by Stephen Gylenhaal, a director who worked mainly in television and made very strong movies including A Killing in a Small Town as well as some feature films including Losing Isaiah and Dangerous Woman (both written by his wife, Naomi Foner).
1. The impact of the telemovie? Its quality? Its subject? The audience for which it was made? The response of people who have experienced cancer and caring for people diagnosed with cancer?
2. The settings in the country, in the city? Buildings and homes? The hospital? An authentic atmosphere? The score?
3. The title, the emphasis on faith and the leap? A holistic approach? The experience of cancer? The diagnosis? Accepting? Belief, faith? The effect on the psyche? Medicine? Imagery and meditation? Acupuncture? The significance of the final disclaimer?
4. Debby and Oscar, their relationship, the long marriage, their love for each other? At home, happiness? Debby’s pregnancy? Oscar’s work? Her illness?
5. Debby and Susan? The workers, the prospects, illness, the reaction? The doctors? The issue of the possibilities of treatment? Susan’s reaction? Oscar’s support? Staying? The treatments – especially imagery and a sense of place? The bar, breathing? The psychological aspects, mother and father? The grave, the cup? The girl killed? Debby’s decisions? The doctor, the changes? The baby, life? Oscar and his coping?
6. Oscar as a good man, pleasant, at work, strong, supportive? His sharing with Debby? His fears?
7. Susan and her stances, anti? The family?
8. Work, pressures?
9. The doctors, their attitudes, beliefs, treatments? The psychologists and their attitudes? The alternate medical possibilities? The effect of the drama, the interaction, family and marital love? The effect of illness? Hope and holistic medicine?
