Christopher Harley Positive Aspects

Quick Critique #6

Coma

This marks the second time Ive watched Coma. The last time being 1978 when it originally ran in theaters. I was 11 years old then and neither able to discern the films ethical questions nor pay much notice of the gender politics that are set right out front. Life is tough for the scrappy surgical resident, Susan Wheeler, played by Genevive Bujold. Shes uncovered this ghastly practice of organ farming at Boston General Hospital while trying to maintain a love affair with her boyfriend, Dr. Mark Bellows, played by Michael Douglas. That first scene in the apartment, when Bellows asked for a beer in a fashion so Ward Cleaver that it must have made women gnash their teeth in 1978, sets the tone for the gender issues of the time. I was immediately reminded how set-ups like that one were so commonplace in film and television from that time. Its film equivalent here is ripped right out of the scripts for Rhoda or Maude. Framed in the same way today, with the same roles played by powerful characters, I doubt very many audience members would even bat an eyelash. But thats indicative of time. In 1978, women were struggling to exert their independence and to show their need to be viewed as equals in the trenches of second-wave feminism. Although I certainly respect that fact, overt displays like the apartment scene still come off as strident. But there had to be that example in the balance of power to show the audience what Dr. Wheeler was up against. Her nemesis, Richard Widmarks, Dr. Harris, chief of surgery at Boston General was far worse than shed encounter in any pillow talk with Michael Douglas. Though I respected the characters diligence and strong will, I couldnt help but notice that she often wore skirts throughout the movie. Perhaps thats how she does her gender. Or at least that was one aspect. The disco dance class after work was the real zinger. I could almost hear her say, Im only ever really alive when Im dancing. But that was the role that Hollywood recognized for strong women in the 70s. It was whatever a woman wanted to be, on her own terms; in the way she wanted it. To quote from the zeitgeist of the time, I can bring home bacon, fry it up the pan. There you have it, neither one of the roles are exclusive to the other. Interesting Aspects Organ farming was definitely brought the fore in this film. I remember dinner table discussions about the idea set against the fear of mans inhumanity toward his fellow man. I was living with my grandparents at the time and I remember my grandfather was sure that just such a practice would be commonplace in 20 years. What was supposed to degrade so drastically both politically and ethically between 1978 and 1998, Im not particularly sure but suffice to say it hasnt and we should be thankful it hasnt. I also remember that within 10 years of this film, the urban legends of people waking up in ice baths only to find that theyd been relieved of one of their kidneys had taken shape. But the idea of organ donation had also become more commonplace. Thats a definite good, as I have both known a donor who had lost his life and a recipient whose life had been saved. I also know that to this day there are religious faiths that continue to reject the idea of organ donation or of even sharing blood among humans. Thats a tough one to handle when everyone in PHE 455 Lockwood 1

Christopher Harley

Quick Critique #6

Coma

question is willing and able to give and receive. But thats not what is addressed in this film. In Coma, were asked what it would be like to continue our lives if we were oblivious as to where our donors organs came from. In a deeper sense I think the film plays on the truth that human beings struggle for survival against all manner of foes and sometimes killing your fellow man for the sake of survival is necessary and permissible. Sure, here its couched in economics, Widmarks ledger deems it necessary but my point is that the bigger question could be how many of us would take the donation if we were uncertain as how it was retrieved? Conflict organs, anyone? In this film, the patients were healthy donors, culled from the hospitals roster based on their levels of fitness. Perhaps its my own pessimism that sees a future where persons on the margin, the poor, the disenfranchised could be coaxed into giving up their organs for the sake of the rich and influential in our society. Maybe thats 20 years from now and maybe Im just as paranoid as my grandfather was back in 1978. I can almost echo his words. But that doesnt mean we as a society have moved any farther from the way we care for the rich and influential in ways that we dont for the less fortunate. Negative Aspects Its certainly convenient to hate hospital administrators. When theyre not cold and heartless bean counters, theyre crafty killers devising new ways to de-animate organ donors. Harris smug denunciation of Wheelers idealism plays into a far too common trope; get all you can because this is business and the stockholders demand a profit. But film and television have always had their cops, lawyers, and doctors and the audience likes to see the old guard fall to the feet of the upstart bent on getting the answers and breaking the rules to do it. I cant, as hard as I try, remember any film or television show that cast administrators in a positive light. Thats sad because health administration is a business in this country and I would hope that were ushering in new era of compassionate administration alongside the idealistic doctors and nurses that we see on the front lines. In the future we might need to see these characters fleshed out a bit so that their humanity leads their work. I couldnt write this critique without tying to poke holes in the chain of evidence that seemed to elude suspicion of the key players in this film. It seems to me that so many anomalies would have raised questions early on, long before Dr. Wheeler felt pressed by her personal relationship with one of the patients. Medicine being a business means that the cops and lawyers would have been on the scene a lot sooner if this were happening in a modern American hospital. See, there they are again, the tripartite of entertainment: cops, lawyers, and doctors.

PHE 455

Lockwood