Being a fan of Emma Thompson, I was anxious to see this....but wound up not exactly entertained, although I always appreciate her acting. Seeing a woman slowly die of cancer is not exactly an uplifting storyline, but that's what this is all about. I'm not surprised the film wasn't a big hit.
What the story specifically focuses on is Emma ("Vivian Bering") being the subject of an experimental drug. She is dying of cancer and by being the "guinea pig," she courageously can demonstrate how effective this drug is even though she knows it isn't going to cure her.
"Bering" is a cold, intellectual college professor who, through this ordeal, slowly finds out the importance of people treating others with more humanity. That sounds inspiring, but it's a tough movie to sit through. Critics called it "intelligent" because Thomposn's character used an extensive vocabulary as she narrated her experiences.
A so-so film but certainly not one I would watch a second time. Seeing Thompson bald and bitter throughout a good portion of the film wasn't fun, either!
What the story specifically focuses on is Emma ("Vivian Bering") being the subject of an experimental drug. She is dying of cancer and by being the "guinea pig," she courageously can demonstrate how effective this drug is even though she knows it isn't going to cure her.
"Bering" is a cold, intellectual college professor who, through this ordeal, slowly finds out the importance of people treating others with more humanity. That sounds inspiring, but it's a tough movie to sit through. Critics called it "intelligent" because Thomposn's character used an extensive vocabulary as she narrated her experiences.
A so-so film but certainly not one I would watch a second time. Seeing Thompson bald and bitter throughout a good portion of the film wasn't fun, either!