Introduction
The “Palliative” describes the work of Doctor Nadia Tremonti. The woman’s primary goal is to help parents and other relatives survive the deaths of children who have long struggled to live. The movie traces the female’s role not only as a palliative care physician but also as a psychologist for bereaved relatives (Beder 00:01:00). Thus, the pediatrician assists the children, attempting to save them but also interacts significantly with their parents. Currently, there is a challenge in society’s reluctance to discuss such sensitive matters. Therefore, a critical analysis of the documentary “Palliative” should be performed and indicate whether or not the author of the film has achieved its goal.
The Main Theme of The Film
The film’s primary focus is on the problems that have arisen in society and are associated with the death of children. Hence, the documentary reveals the themes of professional care for terminally ill kids and parental support. At the same time, “Palliative” demonstrates that there are cases when death cannot be avoided; thus, it is essential to prepare parents for it. Another issue is the widespread stigmatization of death in society, which leads to fear of the inevitable event (Beder 00:03:06). The film aims to explain the importance of providing the best care and emotional well-being for the dying child. Accordingly, the film’s thesis is based on the idea that death should not be feared if it cannot be avoided but that it is crucial to have the ability to live with it. This is confirmed by the words, “we decided to go and eat lunch at the grave site” (Beder 00:01:04). It means that people’s adequate perception of this concept translates into a painless memory of the dead.
A Selection of Characters
The documentary includes authentic stories about the death of infants and parents’ perceptions of it. For instance, Giovanni has a natural heartbeat and is able to be born alive even though the child’s death will not be missed (Beder 00:06:30). The mother is admonished not to become bonded to the unborn child in order to protect themselves from the pain of loss. The choice of these characters is due to the fact that this situation arises quite often in medical practice, and it is essential to help explain to the parents the significance of bonding with the child. Through this example, Hope Tremont presents that if kids are born alive, they deserve to feel the attention and love of their parents (Beder 00:08:00). This is significant because parents often choose to distance themselves from such children, making it difficult to relive their deaths afterward. It also contributes to the film’s overall idea because the doctor attempts to discuss these uncomfortable and painful moments with the parents and explain the alternatives and their benefits.
The film also features characters who have been caring for sick young children for a long time. For example, Martin’s parents attempt to provide their son with the best care (Beder 00:12:00). Obviously, this story demonstrates that when parents select to care for a child, they are not only receiving emotions of fear and sadness. At the same time, they feel love and respect for the infant, which is why the mother says “l get to take care of him” (Beder 00:13:52). This example demonstrates that caring for even a terminally ill person can provide parents with a sense of happiness. Thus, one should not distance oneself from kids and consider them dead even when they are still alive.
Language then Vocabulary
The film uses specific term language to reinforce its basic ideas. For example, the doctor tries to explain the meaning of the word “P-A-L-L-I-A-T-I-V-E” in detail, which is why the woman stretches the word into letters in order to emphasize exactly the importance of the word (Beder 00:00:21). This helps to explain that such a specific definition means additional care for patients and their mouths, despite the severity of the stage of the disease. Thus, from the introduction of this word, further stories in the documentary address the problems of parental stress and child care. In addition, positive words are used in the film, even though it is about the death of children or the care of sick homes. For example, “good quality,” “feel joy,” and “hug” allow for the atmosphere of love and comfort that every kid should feel (Beder 00:19:00). Therefore, their language, like the pediatrician’s, is aimed at a positive perception of reality, not at developing depression.
The Final Goal
Notably, the film achieves its purpose and is in accordance with the thesis. This is confirmed by the fact that the final conclusion is that “and this day is about what people show that the life of humanity can not be happy in any other, remove everything from this thought, inappropriate it” (Beder 00:29:00). Thus, with the help of a specialist, parents conclude that if death cannot be avoided for their children, it is essential to provide them with at least a short but happy life. In this way, it enables a change in the general human view that death is a sad phenomenon, but it is impossible to live in expectation of it.
Conclusion
Therefore, the film “Palliative” describes parents’ attitudes toward their terminally ill children and the pediatrician’s role in shaping their worldview. The basic idea is that kids have the right to experience their last moments of life alongside parents who provide warmth and love for them. At the same time, a specialist’s help is essential for the parents to prepare for the child’s death and reduce the risk of stress. Accordingly, the film completely fulfilled its own purpose and demonstrated the stories of people deserving of respect.
Works Cited
Beder, John, director. Palliative. Bed Rock Productions, 2020.