Skip to main content

Search

pece_annotation_1479070458

erin_tuttle

Although the film was touching, I could not avoid feeling that this was not an entirely true representation of the acceptance process for the patients and families portrayed. The bravery shown by terminal patients is humbling, and watching them make the most difficult decisions possible shows only the strength of human spirit. The fact that there was a camera present would however have changed the outcome, and I am not convinced that the patients and family members would have been willing to show their anger and grief to the same extent. This is seen in one scene where the wife of a terminal patient began to cry and turned away from the camera until she was able to compose herself again.

pece_annotation_1473871268

erin_tuttle

The argument that health infrastructure was imperative in the prevention of outbreaks was very compelling. The first half of the film, while the virus was just beginning to spread emphasized that initially the hospitals were overwhelmed and forced to close because the resources and personnel needed were not available and no system was in place to deal with the number of cases. This supported the ending argument that Liberia needed more trained medical professionals, better infrastructure, and more health education.