...First Do No Harm (1997) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Jim Abrahams

Writer (WGA):

Ann Beckett (written by)

Release Date:

16 February 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The true story of one woman's struggle against a narrow-minded medical establishment.

Plot Keywords:

Hospital | Epilepsy | Medical Profession | Family Relationships | Disease

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Lori Reimuller
Fred Ward	...	Dave Reimuller
Seth Adkins	...	Robbie Reimuller
Allison Janney	...	Dr. Melanie Abbasac
Margo Martindale	...	Marjean
Oni Faida Lampley	...	Marsha Williams
Leo Burmester	...	Bob Purdue
Tom Butler	...	Jim Peterson
Mairon Bennett	...	Lynne Reimuller
Michael Yarmush	...	Mark Reimuller
Millicent Kelly	...	Herself
Diana Belshaw	...	Business Rep.
Lorraine Brockway	...	Lili's Grandmother
Dick Callahan	...	Gene Falconetti
Hugo Dann	...	Priest

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense emotional and physical depiction of a child's illness.

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials) | 94 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Orono, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Pebblehut Productions

Trivia:

Jim Abrahams helped set up the Charlie Foundation in Santa Monica, California, an institution dedicated to spreading the word about the ketogenic diet to major paediatric neurological centres. It was through this network that he first came into contact with the Reimullers, the family depicted in the film.

Movie Connections:

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Soundtrack:

Over the Rainbow

Brilliant : Another amazing performance from Streep

Initially when I saw this movie on Amazon I was skeptical of buying it, I thought it would be that sort of a lame family struggle film, however this is not the case.

When her son is diagnosed with epilepsy, Lori Reimuller (Meryl Streep), tries to deal with it, taking every measure that she can. After researching epilepsy she discovers the ketogenic diet, a miracle cure? or a unfounded treatment that is a pipe dream? This is a terrific film with wonderful performances from all, I would recommend this film to anyone who has or knows of someone with epilepsy. I myself had it (although this was a mild form that I grew out of). I was never aware of the ketogenic diet.

While I could go on about this film more, simply put it was a must see for everybody, not just for the ketogenic diet but also for awareness of epilepsy in general.