Barring the medical ethics of lying to a patient about her terminal illness while telling her friend, would you want the doctor to tell you that the end is in sight, or would you rather go blindly, blissfully in love?
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That's what makes this film seem so dated. Nowadays, shielding people like this is just not done, for good reason.
People need to be prepared for death, and people at death's door most of all. I already know I am dying! But as a Christian, I know I am forgiven my sins and at death I will go to be with the Lord and have nothing to fear. Those that don't know the Lord need to have the opportunity to accept Christ as their Saviour. Approaching death is certainly a catalyst for many to receive him, like the thief on the cross.
I hope for your sake the Koran doesn't turn out to be the final word of God.
What's the spanish for drunken bum?
I believe the Bible is the Word of God. I can't convince anyone of that fact, but God can. If anyone reads the Bible and sincerely asks God to show him the truth, He will.
shareAs Nietzsche said, "If God wrote the New Testament, he knew surprisingly little Greek."
All of the books of the New Testament were just that - books. Each separate entities in and of themselves. But put them together, and they contradict each other. Not to mention that some of Paul's epistle, mainly the misogynist ones were forged to justify that women should not be allowed in the clergy, and 100 years after the fact, the church fathers altered one of the addressees of one of his legitimate letters to a non-existent name to hide the fact that the recipient was a women upon which he gave great honor.
The book of Acts is basically a Greek hero novel, where the character of Saul/Paul differs far greatly from the self biographical sketch that he gives in the few extant epistles that he did in fact write. In his letters he refers to other letters that he wrote that have been lost. The concept of a New Testament didn't even exist until almost 200 AD.
Of course, I cannot convince you of this. However it is undeniable that unless you read Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew, all that you have when you read the Bible is what Emperor Constantine and King James were willing to PAY to have translated.
I wouldn't want to know. I'd obsess over it every hour of every day, so much so that I'd forget to enjoy the time I had left. The saying "ignorance is bliss" comes to mind. We're all going to die eventually, but knowing the exact amount of time you have left cheapens it all. Everyone would walk on eggshells around you, terrified of upsetting you or hastening your demise. Every moment of happiness you had would be tainted by the knowledge that your time is almost up and there may not be any good times in your limited future. How can you surrender to any emotions, knowing you won't be around to enjoy them? Even if knowing when (and how) you're going to die makes you live your life "to the fullest", it would still be there, looming in the distance. And if you didn't die exactly when you would, you'd still obsess; because then you'd be living on borrowed time, and wondering when it would finally happen.
Sorry if that was a more loaded response than the question called for! I guess I think about death a lot.
~ Quod me nutrit me destruit ~
What nourishes me also destroys me
Excellent post! The fact that no one has responded to it for two years suggests that you, indeed, had the last word on the matter. But I at least wanted to acknowledge the reason of your arguments.
Strange how these threads turn into arguments over religion, but oh well.
And to answer the question I myself posed: Yes, I'd want to know if I were dying. I think.
Actually, that (and the doctor-patient barrier breach) were in the back of my mind the whole movie.. Eh.. sign of the times.. Still enjoyed it, though..
You're a Mormon...Next to you, we ALL have a drinking problem.
Yes, it's hard to watch old movies like this without analyzing how dated the issues appear, isn't it? Of course, that's part of their charm. Great film regardless.
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I think I would want to know so I could make the most of the time I had left. So I could get off my ass and do some stuff. I'd probably drop out of university, go travelling or something like that.
If I was in Judith's position, though, I wouldn't want to know because she was already making the most of her time. She'd gotten her guy, she was in love, she was perfectly happy and didn't seem to want much more.
Take us the foxes, the little foxes...
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I'm very sorry to hear about your cat. I hope you are finding comfort and support during this difficult time. I hope that doesn't sound trite, but there's nothing I could say to take the pain away, and I want you to know that I care – even though I don't know you. I hope that doesn't sound creepy!
For much of our lives, if we have been fortunate, death is an abstraction, something that happens to other beings, those we might be familiar with but not overly attached to, something that will happen to us so far in the future that we needn't imagine the possibilities now. Of course, things can change in an instant, both for the people (and animals) we love and for ourselves.
Really, I'm not sure if I'd want to know if I were dying. It would be easy to say right now that I'd want to know because I am not dying at the moment (not any more than can be expected that I'm aware of, at least). But I'm sure being face to face with the issue would change this "what if" considerably. I'm just not sure in what direction it would change it.
In the meantime, how fortunate it is that we have fictional films such as this to raise those issue for us – at a safe distance.
Again, I hope you are finding the strength to continue after the loss of your cat.
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If people aren't as afraid of their own deaths as we tend to think, perhaps it's because they think their deaths are so far in the future as to not be a pressing issue. Of course, Sylvia Plath probably would have disagreed ...
shareI was first faced with the possibility of my death 9 years ago. I found that it wasn't me I was worried about, but my daughter and the rest of my family. That was equally true the second time around.
We have the easy part. We won't be around to feel the pain of our death. It is those that are left behind that have it hard. They have to deal with the pain of our loss and find a way to go on.
Although I was raised to believe in God, I sometimes wonder if we don't believe in Him because we can't bear the thought that once we are gone, we are gone forever. Death is this big black void that lasts for eternity. We need to think we're going to be frolicking in heaven with those loved ones who have gone before us as opposed to rotting in the ground, totally oblivious.
So far, I've been told twice that my death was a possibility. The second time around I was told my death was imminent. So far, I've managed to cheat death. I happen to think it made me a stronger person.
I can't imagine not wanting to be told. There are things to say to your loved ones. There are things to do. There are things you can do to make your passing easier on those left behind.
We are all going to die, it's as simple as that. Not being told isn't going to make our death any easier. We still have to go through the process and those left behind still have to feel the pain of it all.
What you call discovery, I call the rape of the natural world.
Excellent post, RightBackAtYa, and how fortunate that you have been able to cheat death twice. I think it also speaks volumes of you that your thoughts turn to your family during those times of uncertainty. Clearly they need you as much as you need them.
I wish you continued strength during times of uncertainty, and the fact that you appear to have your priorities straight should be a tremendous boost through the difficult times. Here's to many more great movies like this, and many more years with your loved ones.
This is a remarkable coincidence. The first time I ever saw this motion picture was on TCM, sitting up in ICU recovering from surgery for the removal of, you guessed it, a glio-blastoma multiforme. A very aggressive type of malignant brain tumor. I have been informed that it will indeed very likely kill me in about 2 years. But (and there is always a but), with aggressive treatment patients with similar conditions are still around going on 15 years. So, do I know I am going to die? Of course. But, do I know when? Not really.
I think a lot of how you feel about such things depends on how old you are at the time. I am 53, so I have been around for a while already, and I plan on being around for a while yet. This bit of bad luck has made me think, however. Maybe appreciate the people I care about a little more. I know I call my Mother more often!
I do like this film, but I must say seeing it the first time in such circumstances was a bit eerie. The message I got was the old saw about enjoying each day as though it were your last. Because none of us really knows when that might be.
I hope I didn't bring anybody down, that was not my intention.
Thanks for your poignant reply! It's amazing how many people have experienced this film from the "other side." Of course we are all going to die, but for some, the "what if" has more immediacy, and I appreciate you sharing your story.
You are fortunate to have made it 53 years and still have your mother, and I wish you many more years to come. Watch some great movies (like this one), and enjoy life! All the best to you, billafu.
If you ever return to this forum, Warped, and I hope you do, I just wanted to thank you for your kind words. As you can see by the date of this post I have made it past the 2 year mark at least. I plan on meeting up with Mom and some other family in a couple weeks for a reunion as well.
Thanks again and take care.
Hello, Billafu: I'm very happy to hear you've made it past the two-year mark, especially when the doctor initially told you that the brain tumor could very likely kill you in that time. Is the two-year point some kind of milestone, after which your chances are better? Regardless, I hope you have a strong support network of family and friends.
I wish you the best of times at your family reunion and beyond. I'll be here anytime you want to provide an update. Here's to health and happiness for a long time to come!
That is a very moving post, billafu. I hope you are doing well these days, and I wish you the best future possible.
shareI'd want to know, so I could figure things out money wise, and my significant other, maybe quit work so I could enjoy my last days/months whatever.
shareThat certainly makes sense, and I would do the same. I hope that doesn't happen for a very long time, but if it does and you have any funds left over, just remember your old pals here on IMDb!
shareThe whole part where the dr. and best friend keep saying "she must never know!" that Bette was at death's door was very unfair and made me a little angry at the movie. I didn't think they had any right to make that decision. I also think one would live their last year differently if they knew it was their last, rather than if they figured they had plenty of time left and might waste some of it. Bette's character was wealthy, which to me seemed important to make any last dreams come true with her last year on earth. What if she'd always wanted to see Paris or wanted to swim with dolphins or who knows? If she knew this was it, she could live out the rest of her year any way she wanted and finish any dreams or business she may want to wrap up. Was there a first love that got away she wanted to see once more? A long-lost relative she wants to say good-bye to? In the end, she got to know love with the dr. and therefore she seemed happy and she was able to make peace with imminent death since she found out, but the point is that she needed to know to make those choices and to find that peace.
"Are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins?" ~ The Good Girl
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