Analysis Of The Film 'Wit'

“Wit” the Film

Hearing the phrase, “you have cancer” is often a patient’s worst fear coming to life as they know they will be stripped away of their identity and become a victim masked by illness. As though being in the hospital is not bad enough, with hospital gowns gaping open in all the wrong places, invasive examinations and horrifying tests, some terminally ill patients are facing dehumanizing treatment from their physicians. In Mike Nichols’ film “Wit” these dehumanizing practices are brought to light through the main character’s, Vivian Bearing’s, battle with stage IV Metastatic Ovarian Cancer. Bearing’s story highlights the dehumanizing atrocities of facing advance cancer and the importance of communication.

In the opening of the film, Bearing is shown being talked down to by her physician, Dr. Kelekian, as he rushes through Bearing’s diagnosis and his plan for treating her cancer. The quickness and emotionally

Representing the importance of emotional support, Susie comforts Bearing in the final days of her life by simply talking to her and listening to Bearing’s fears about death and pain. Susie explains to Bearing that her cancer is not and will not be cured and she must decide on how she wants to die, which is information Dr. Kelekian never clearly explained to Bearing. Providing Bearing with the information about how she may choose how she wants to die, Susie returns control back to Bearing that Dr. Kelekian and Dr. Woodward had denied her. This sense of compassion and respect for the patient is crucial in patients making the best decisions for themselves. Without the thorough communication between Bearing and Susie, Dr. Kelekian and Dr. Woodward would have extended Bearing’s suffering to benefit their research. Susie’s compassion for Bearing puts the patient first and allows Bearing to accept death on her own terms as a do not rusticate