Review of 'Aphasia (2010)'

Goddess Aphasiadite invited Kevin Cooper to write a review of 'Aphasia, the movie'. Kevin is a movie guru that I ask about movies.

Aphasia (2010)
One in approximately six hundred and forty-nine thousand; this is the probability of being dealt a Royal Flush -- a perfect hand in a game of straight poker. To be dealt such a hand would be considered lucky in every sense of the word, but life in itself is a gamble and with that comes many opportunities for loss & gain. So if you're old enough to be reading the words on this page, then chances are that you've already lived long enough to know that there is more than one type of luck in this oversized Bingo Hall that we call life. And it is this "other luck" that stroke survivor Carl McIntyre has such an intimate relationship with.

In June of 2005, Mr. McIntyre unexpectedly lost his ability to speak, read & write. But to put it more aptly, we should say that these abilities were taken from him as the result of a massive stroke that left 80% of his left hemisphere of his brain damaged. Or as Carl himself would put it, he won "Life's Lottery".

The film Aphasia (written & directed by Jim Gloster) focuses on coming to terms with these "winnings", and stars Carl McIntyre to give a first-hand perspective on what living with Aphasia really means. But more importantly, the film focuses on creating an awareness of this condition and how a person can rise above it.

The movie begins with our humble narrator playing with his children. When tragedy strikes, it is here that the film immediately (and effectively) conveys the helplessness of the main character to the audience as Carl spends nearly forty minutes immobilized on the floor -- his family unaware, and therefore unable to help him. The scene itself only runs for the first five minutes of the film, but it feels like the audience is sharing the entire forty minutes on the floor with Carl while gasps & exasperated sighs resound from almost every seat in the theatre.

Thankfully, Carl eventually receives the medical attention that he needs and so begins his journey into the rehabilitation process.
Like most journeys in our lives, the road can be long & unpredictable; but a healthy combination of determination & stubbornness is oftentimes what separates success from failure. Throughout the remainder of the film, Carl candidly shows us this success scene-after-scene, and frequently leaves the audience with a feeling of true inspiration. Whether he’s enunciating a familiar word for the first time (word on the street is that “shit” and “dick” are pretty popular), or achieving another milestone in his progress, the film never fails to instil us with the same hope that his own family holds for him. The movie consistently avoids being preachy or heavy-handed with its message, and a concise running time keeps viewers engaged without overstaying its welcome.

Immediately following the screening of the film, the audience was delighted to discover that Mr. McIntyre was actually in the very same room for his Canadian debut. Thereafter, much time was spent getting to know more about Carl’s progress, as well as his dedication to the cause. To say the least, the hurdles he has overcome is a remarkable achievement all its own; but to say the most, his progress has been nothing short of a miracle.

Thomas Edison once told us that “many of life’s failures are people who do not realize how close they were to success when they gave up”. Carl McIntyre did not give up. And this is an example for not only those who are living with Aphasia, but also for those who are simply living.
Special thanks to Judy Arbique & Anne Rendell, who gave everyone the opportunity to see this wonderful film.

- Kevin M. Cooper, WGA/WGC -