Timothy Hutton's character has Lyme and his life is in shambles. His wife is having an affair. She thinks he is looking for work...but he isn't.
The movie doesn't spell it out clearly so the lyme indicators are there for people who know what to look for. He is tired. He gets headaches and his ears ring. He smokes pot to feel better. He likes to shoot his gun at targets but it is implied he'd like to shoot the deer.
Personally, I empathized with his character.
Another character is a mother who is paranoid about her kids being exposed to ticks. She wraps their sleeves and pant legs with duct tape. I never really figured out if SHE had lyme or not. I think maybe she did...but it is possible she was paranoid because of Hutton having it.
Again...those of us aware of the devistation LD can cause understands that state of paranoia. At least I can.
The movie isn't about LD. It's about two kids-a boy and girl--who have been friends and neighbors but who are now beginning to have sexual feelings for each other.
I don't think the movie was supposed to support any "cause" per se.
I just thought that LD in the plot was interesting as LD is still something most of the country barely knows anything about.
Posts: 212 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I haven't read the comments but I did rent it and rated it low.
I would not recommend it.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I know it wasn't meant to do anything for us... but if they made us look paranoid, that is not good. I am aware that some have this as a part of lyme though.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
I just watched this movie this morning. I was curious, so I watched it, knowing it did not get good reviews.
I'd say it was a horrible movie, and I did like to see lyme disease make an entrance to a movie plot.
I am old enough to remember when HIV started making it into soap operas, not that I watched soaps much.
That was considered a huge step towards disease awareness.
As far as how lyme is portrayed in this particular movie....I think the writers of the film knew very little about lyme.
First of all, they open the movie right up with saying that the lyme bacteria is from deer blood.
NOPE! It is from rodent blood, and deer are the vectors for breeding ticks.
Secondly, the character with lyme shows mostly neurological symptoms. I would have preferred if he were a little more arthritic as well.
The use of F..K in the movie was excessive. Shoot, I get so tired of Hollywood. I'm not a prude, but give me a break. There is a big audience out there that won't watch the movie just becuase of the "F" word jumping out every 10 seconds.
Those are my initial reflections.
Mary
[ 02-05-2010, 02:49 PM: Message edited by: lymewreck36 ]
Posts: 1034 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think that the representation of the character with Lyme was shown through the eyes of the time period. Look how little the general public knows about Lyme now. When this movie is set, it seemed to be seen as related to syphllis(sp). The character obviously had neurologic lyme and was seen as "crazy" by the other characters. He also didn't show his pain to everyone. He waited until his family left home and then allowed himself to feel. Just like a lot of us, he didn't want to be seen as sick and disabled. He knew he wasn't understood, so he tried to fit himself into the normal world by appearing to be looking for a job. He didn't try to advocate for himself and try to be understood - probably because he didn't even understand it himself and the medical community wasn't able to explain it to him. I thought the movie was very sad and I could relate to the character's loneliness and isolation. I wished that the audience could have learned more about the disease and understood the character more, but I think that was a reflection of the period. One really good piece of knowledge the character shared is that he doesn't feel the same from day to day. The disease and symptoms changes and moves around the body. You never know what is going to happen next.
Posts: 8 | From NC | Registered: May 2009
| IP: Logged |
lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
Good observations snatchedid.
mary :-)
Posts: 1034 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I, too, was disappointed. I am consrtantly looking for a good way to explain how I feel to others, and educate people about it. Under Our Skin has helped, although it scares people, understandably, and it also makes me feel rather hopeless, every time I see it. Lymelife did NOTHING to explain or demonstrate the disease, in my opinion, I found it rather confusing and irrelevant. Silly, almost. I suppose any public mention of it is a positive thing, yet this movie did little to nothing to explain or educate to people. Sigh.
Posts: 6 | From Denver, CO | Registered: Feb 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
Haven't seen the movie, saw it listed but didn't look like something I'd watch..kinda got the drift it wasn't about lyme..was actually confused on the title.
I agree with all of you but I can't help but chuckle imaginging the mother duct taping the kids.
Being as I am a single mom with only 1 child and have ALWAYS been over protective
I could so relate to me doing something like that to my son when he was younger--he's 17 now, taller than me and I doubt he'de let me get away with it now.
Dang, oh well...there are always grand children perhaps-lol
Karen
Posts: 423 | From Virginia | Registered: Nov 2009
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by lymewreck36: There is a big audience out there that won't watch the movie just becuase of the "F" word jumping out every 10 seconds.
Oh, if I had gone to the theatre and heard that every 10 seconds I'd be wanting my money back and I'd walk out.
I probably wouldn't get the $$$ though!! Sick of Hollywood and basically do not go to the movies anymore unless I am SURE the movie relates to "my world."
Too old for that %#@&!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
yep...i am not sure how they came up with the title either
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
Lymetoo, I am frequently irritated with hollywood.
Does art imitate life, or life imitate art?
Who cares, they affect each other, so clean it up!
What I had to ask myself was this.....could the movie portray the same plot without the bad language, and my answer is "yes." I think so.
I don't know why they call this movie "lymelife," as another person said. Lyme is not the focus of the movie. In fact, the biggest problem the movie has is that for the first 3/4 of the film, there is no focus.
Mary
Posts: 1034 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged |
In fact, the biggest problem the movie has is that for the first 3/4 of the film, there is no focus.
Mary
Just like in real life. Most people have no clue why they are on this earth!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
Funny thing, Lymetutu, the early part of my life was marred by this lack of focus and confusion, like I was groping through the entire journey.
But after a period of time with lyme disease, and much prayer while asking God why, my answer was delivered to me.
My purpose here is to love God and my family. Happiness is not something I have to wait for and look for. Happiness is in every moment; it is in the now.
I never knew that before. Now I no longer struggle with that.
Mary
Posts: 1034 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[bonk]](graemlins/bonk.gif)
![[rant]](graemlins/rant.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic