Film history is full of wonderful films about disease, illness, outbreak and recovery. Some are documentaries, other are based off books or plays, and yet, still more are pure fiction. Disease is the stuff of great dramatic stories.
One of my most recent favorite new indie films Shame. Shame profiles the life of a sex addict and, although it is a work of fiction, it is remarkably realistic. The writer and director interviewed hundreds of sex addicts before creating the film. Shame also comes out at an interesting time. Sex addiction is a controversial topic. Some people believe it is a real addiction like gambling addiction or crack addiction. Others say it is a behavioral issue stemming from a mental disease (P.T.S.D., depression) but not an addiction unto itself. Skeptics will say it is just an excuse for people to behave immorally. Regardless of your feelings about the validity of sex addiction, Shame is an excellent independent film.
Another break out star in the cannon of independent films about disease is Angels in America. This HBO produced made for TV movie was based off the play by Tony Kushner. Kushner's play was brilliant but dense, inaccessible, and extremely hard to act out on stage. The HBO version presented the story in a more liner way (in the play a lot of things happen on stage simultaneously) and the all-star cast attracted a lot of people who would normally not want to see a 7 hour, magical realist take on the AIDS epidemic.
Another great movie about disease is the Andromeda Strain. This film is not only about a disease, it is about a super disease from outer space. The only two people who survive in the town where the alien disease touches down are a baby and a man in open heart surgery recovery. The film is based off a book by genius author Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, The Sphere). It is great because it combines science fiction with some of the more traditional disease movie tropes.
If you are looking for a medical documentary, I would suggest the PBS series Depression: Out of the Shadows. This medical documentary looks at the personal, social, and medical reasons for depression. More importantly, however, it doesn't only talk about avoiding depression, it offers scientifically proven and researched ways to make you happier. The study of psychological illness dates back over a century, but the study of the state of happiness is a new and burgeoning field. You don't have to be feeling blue to enjoy this series.
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HomeStan Productions is dedicated to creating thought provoking indie films. They produce cutting edge and gripping independent films about both personal and social issues.
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