What an excellent drama and the acting, especially Julie Walters, was all so convincing.
Time for a debate I think in this country
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Outstanding performance from Walters. Her warmth, dignity, frustration and despair were never less than convincing. She delivered lines such as her farewell to her housekeeper perfectly.
Very, very moving.
Superb production. Another BAFTA winning performance from Julie.
Well done to all concerned
Steve
Julie Walters was superb in this - she is guaranteed a BAFTA and I hope that it gets shown in America so she will be eligible for an Emmy.
Kudos also to Stephen Campbell-Moore, Lindsay Marshall and Liz White.
I'm a 35 year old bloke and even I started to get upset when she took the barbitutes and her kids were hugging her.
shareI'm a little older than you (also male) and am quite happy to admit I cried several times during this, and still can't get it out of my head. Admittedly I am a sucker for a tearjerker, particularly when they are true stories, but this one REALLY got under my skin, and doesn't want to shift! I have always been passionate about legalizing assisted suicide, and this has just confirmed everything I believe in. I defy anyone opposed to assisted dying to watch this, and at least consider the implications of their beliefs.
We desperately need a change in the law to prevent people from having to suffer from being unable to die in their own country. Being forced to a foreign land, with Doctors we are unfamiliar with, is frankly disgraceful. Dignitas provide an outstanding service, but if you don't live in Switzerland, you should never be forced to travel there in order to end your suffering. We need an organization like theirs in the UK.
Bloody brilliant piece of drama, which highlights a very important ethical issue. Julie Walters, stand up! Your BAFTA is on the way (and if it isn't, then it damn well should be!)
Couldn't agree more. This has BAFTA written all over it. Extraordinary piece of drama, remarkable acting, and probably the most compelling argument in favour of assisted death. We consider it 'inhumane' to allow a horse to live with a broken leg, or a dog to suffer with severe arthritis, and yet this country (and many others) allow human beings the worst agonies, and perhaps more importantly, the worst indignities of all.
I really do not understand how anyone can oppose such a change in the law. The religious reasons cited are laughable, the Hippocratic Oath which states "first do no harm" needs to be considered carefully.. do people really understand it? Surely do no harm means allow no suffering. If I am doing more harm by allowing this person to LIVE, then the alternative is to allow them to die, painlessly, with dignity and comfort. If that isn't the fundamental principle behind the Oath, then I, for one, don't know what is.
Very well put. The whole concept of 'being allowed to die' is just crazy, it's my damn body and I'll do what I want with it! The UK laws are sorely in need of revision, but after having seen some comments by the clergy scattered around on the Internet, I wonder if the bishops are holding sway here, and perhaps the government don't want to rock the 'state religion' boat? I may be completely wrong, but it's a thought....
Dr Turner should have died at home with her beloved cat with her, as well as her children. Our laws are so ridiculous - individuality is getting harder and harder to uphold in this country, but this is one law that should really be fought for. (All the usual old rubbish about poor Aunty Mabel possibly being done away with by her wicked relatives, was completely blown out of the water by this drama - you were allowed to change your mind right right up until the very last minute, and your decision was even videoed - how can anyone argue with that?)
One small point - it seems rather cruel that one's very last drink on earth should be so vile - I wonder if there isn't some way to make it more palatable? (The sight of the poor children scrabbling for chocolates to feed to their mother in her last minutes will live with me for a long time. They just wanted everything to be as good as they could make it, under the circumstances.)
One last acting plaudit - the man who played the paralysed husband Jack. What a performance. The way he swivelled his eye round to follow his wife at the wedding, was quite unnerving and almost unbearable to watch. Keeping still for that long must have been almost impossible, but to act at the same time and have the audience be aware of his feelings - let's say I bet it was one of the hardest parts he has ever played.
Perhaps I'm not so wrong in my comments about the bishops - I just found this:-
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article714143.ece
Obviously they won that time - perhaps it will just keep happening??
Quote: Jaycey
One small point - it seems rather cruel that one's very last drink on earth should be so vile - I wonder if there isn't some way to make it more palatable? (The sight of the poor children scrabbling for chocolates to feed to their mother in her last minutes will live with me for a long time. They just wanted everything to be as good as they could make it, under the circumstances.)
In agreement with you all an absolutely superp piece of drama, the scene at the end when the children lay their mother on the bed, - and they're all crying and the son cries "I love you Mummy" oh the whole scene was heartbreaking, utterly heartbreaking. Oh and the pain the mother felt at putting her children through this, excellently portrayed by Walters - I too a guy was teary eyed.
shareIt was so brilliantly acted - and so moving that I actually couldn't watch it all. I had to switch off! I couldn't deal with it. I will go back and watch it on catch up though. It's Julie - so I must!
shareIf anyone wants to rewatch this brilliant film, or if you missed it like I did, you can get a copy on DVD from this trading website http://dvd247.tripod.com - I did. If you can't or don't want to trade you can make a small donation (3 quid - uk only). I've got many TV rarities from here and they arrive within days.
shareFirst-rate production. Excellent script that very adroitly avoided the pitfalls of sentimentality and rang true. And a humdinger of a role given to an actor (Walters) who was clearly up for it and did it full justice. I wasn't QUITE sure about the chess-game scene, which I felt was a little contrivedly confrontational, but maybe the director had his reasons.
The only sad aspect is that this classy drama has just 80 votes and just the one user comment. What are we to make of that?
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