Ain't that my life

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Movie
German title Ain't that my life
Original title Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1981
length 118 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director John Badham
script Reginald Rose ,
Brian Clark
production Lawrence P. Bachmann
music Arthur B. Rubinstein
camera Mario Tosi
cut Frank Morriss
occupation

Ain't that my life (Original title: Whose Life Is It Anyway? ) Is an American feature film from 1981. The drama directed by John Badham is based on the play of the same name by Brian Clark , who wrote the screenplay with Reginald Rose .

action

Ken Harrison, a 32-year-old sculptor, is paralyzed from the neck down after a car accident.

For the first few months he tries to master his new situation with humor and subtleties. He covers up his absolute helplessness with jokes when he has to shave, wash or turn over in bed. When he almost falls out of bed, he asks for the first time about his future. His doctor, Dr. Emerson, finally explains to him that Harrison will never walk again, never use his hands again, and Harrison begins to oppose certain drugs.

In long, waking nights he sees his past life: his work as a sculptor, his life with his girlfriend, a ballet dancer, and he realizes that he will never be able to continue this life again. Finally he decides that he doesn't want to continue his life like this and that he wants to be released from the clinic, which would result in his imminent death. He sends his girlfriend away, wants her never to come to him again. Then he begins his fight for his death and against everyone around him.

Since nobody takes his wish seriously, even devalues ​​it as "sick", and since nobody wants to help him with it, he gets in touch with a lawyer who is supposed to enforce his decision not to be treated in court. Even the lawyer, Mr. Carter Hill, is not keen on enforcing this matter, but he accepts the assignment.

Harrison's greatest enemy is Dr. Emerson who does not accept that the paralyzed man wants to be released. He brings psychiatrists to the field who certify that Harrison is insane, that he is reactive-depressive, and therefore cannot decide about his life for himself.

The hospital staff first try everything to dissuade Harrison from the thought of death.

But Harrison sticks to his wish and slowly the people around him are beginning to accept and support him.

His lawyer wants a hearing based on habeas corpus law . It means by law that no one can be deprived of their freedom without charge or trial.

Finally, there is an all-important hearing with Judge Whyle. After a brief exchange of blows with the judge, Harrison delivers his harrowing, deeply moving and moving defense speech for his dismissal. The judge takes several hours to make a decision, has documents come in, and in the late afternoon he pronounces the verdict: He thinks Ken Harrison is a thoughtful and brave man who is in the best of his intellectual abilities and orders the discharge from the clinic on.

Dr. Emerson offers to stay in the clinic. No more dialysis, no more treatment, the diet is cut off. Harrison asks if there might be some more life-saving attempts, but Dr. Emerson says no, not if Harrison doesn't want to. When Harrison asks the doctor why he is doing this, his answer is, "Because you might change your mind!"

background

The shooting took place in Massachusetts , USA.

criticism

  • film-dienst : The controversial topic of passive euthanasia serves as a hook for an attractively designed entertainment film, which sees itself as a plea for a "humane" death. The film, which is also interesting in terms of acting, fails due to the superficial examination of its topic, so that in the end only well-kept entertainment is offered.

literature

  • Brian Clark : Isn't that my life? (Original title: Whose Life is It Anyway? ). Westend version (reprint). German by Wolf Parr . S. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 1983, 120 pages [stage manuscript]

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