DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
MS Speaks
HTML https://msspeaks.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: MOVIES, TV
*****************************************************
#Post#: 2183--------------------------------------------------
New Yorker review: Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
By: agate Date: August 15, 2018, 12:46 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I haven't seen this Gus Van Sant movie, and John Callahan, the
person who is the subject of the movie, did not have MS, but
some of his experiences and insights as a wheelchair user seem
to have spoken to many with MS. Anthony Lane reviews "Don't
Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot" in the New Yorker (July 23,
2018)--and explains the title for those unfamiliar with
Callahan's cartoon with that caption (see below):
HTML https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/07/23/gus-van-sants-semi-surreal-dont-worry-he-wont-get-far-on-foot
HTML https://www.wweek.com/resizer/AX6kXgmQhcWHZ-GCp5_hMh9H1Nw=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-wordpress-client-uploads/wweek/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/16153528/4438_Lede_Political-Cartoon_Cartoonist_Comic_John-Callahan_3.jpg
#Post#: 2307--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Yorker review: Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
By: agate Date: December 15, 2018, 10:55 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[font=arial]I've seen the movie, and had a mixed reaction to it.
Although the movie doesn't cover Callahan's death, I learned
from Wikipedia that he died of infected bed sores--a fact that
makes his story all the more poignant. That this is still
happening, in an age of miracle drugs and supposedly
up-to-the-minute medical knowledge, is tragic and shows how
little understanding there is of paralysis and its dangers, even
now.[/font]
In the movie the focus is on Callahan's alcoholism, and we are
shown several AA meetings.
I don’t know what to make of this movie, partly because I don’t
know enough about the real person.
The movie may be giving a somewhat skewed representation of
typical AA meetings. This particular group is led by a
(self-appointed) guru of sorts, whose condescension I found
grating but apparently he is well tolerated by everyone in the
group. My impression of typical AA dynamics is that a member’s
sponsor might be something like a guru, at least at first, but
soon enough it becomes clear that even one’s sponsor–who is
advanced enough along the AA path to be doing the all-important
12th-step work of helping other alcoholics to recover–is a
fallible human being. Also, one’s own sponsor isn’t a leader of
the group to the extent that Donnie is in this movie. No one
person is in charge because everyone is equally important in AA.
There are no elected officers, no group leaders. That’s not what
AA looks like here in Don’t Worry…. There may be those opinions
and experience are more respected than others, but that is about
as far as most AA groups go towards having any hierarchical
structure, I believe.
That the Swedish physical therapist who happens into Callahan's
life might be a figment of his imagination, as the New Yorker
review suggests, makes the story more understandable though in
the movie itself it isn't clear that she is imaginary.
*****************************************************