Margaret Thatcher: Okay to Make a Movie About a Living Person's Dementia?
By Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com senior editor
Two things may be noteworthy to family caregivers about the new biopic of the former British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher: 1) Her dementia is featured prominently in the film, which stars Meryl Streep as Lady Thatcher, and 2) She's still alive.
This makes many people squeamish about The Iron Lady, reports the U.K. Daily Mail -- though not Streep herself.
"Dementia is a subject with which most of us - sadly - are familiar, through family and friends, and I don’t think it’s something we should shy away from featuring in a movie," Streep says. "Some people have said that it’s shameful to portray this part of a life, that the ebbing end of life is something that should be shut away and that people need to be defended from the images of those suffering from dementia. But I don’t think it’s shameful. I don’t see why it can‘t be shown."
To the contrary, the two-time Oscar-winner hopes that putting dementia prominently onscreen will "create a debate" about the condition. She adds that the portrayal is "respectful" and "empathetic."
In the movie, Lady Thatcher is shown both in her prime as the longest-serving British prime minister and as she is today, in her 80s, living in seclusion and suffering from delusions and the other cognitive symptoms of dementia. Thatcher's dementia was disclosed by her daughter in 2008.
Too bad, then, that despite critics' universal praise for Streep's performance, they've expressed disappointment at the film itself -- in part because the scenes with her dementia are said to seem overlong in proportion to her accomplishments. Says critic Chris Tookey of the Daily Mail: "Director Phyllida Lloyd’s second film has all the economic and political sophistication of her first, Mamma Mia!"
Will you watch it to assess the historical accuracy? To weigh the appropriateness of the declining mental state of a living person on the big screen? Whatever draws you in, it sounds like these two formidable legends provide plenty to mull over.
We need more of this type of information getting to the general public. We need education, education, education. I was only able to recognize the symptoms of early onset alzheimer,s in my husband at 59 because of the eight years I spent as caregiver to my mother who also suffered. With our aging population we need the same type of public awareness campaign the cancer society has been so successful with for breast cancer awareness. Although they miss completely one important facet of it. Male breast cancer , after discovering a lump in my husbands breast he had a complete mastectomy last year, lymph nodes the works, and is now thankfully cancer free. This type of breast cancer is out there , lethal and sadly completely ignored.
Perhaps the people who are against the film are not the caregivers of someone with Dementia like those of us commenting; otherwise, they would want light shed on this most difficult of diseases.
Hugs RitaB.
Interesting criticism of the film: Overlong in proportion to her accomplishments. A person with dementia faces only today and each moment is a challenge for them. It's not fair a fair comparison to say that Ms Thatcher's healthy accomplishments can be overshadowed; they are apples and oranges. Our dilemma: Alzheimers Disease and Dementia need to be talked about in our nation. As caregivers, our family lives and work lives have an added dimension that is not addressed currently by our government or sometimes even our jobs. If this is a tool to open a discussion because it affects so many of us, then so be it. This is just a beginning. Yes, we will go and see it - I may even take my Mom, who has dementia. We won't be focused on historical accuracy - this is not usually the reason we see movies.
Hugs squirrels nest
Hello!!! Dementia does take one "overlong" in proportion to ones accomplishments. If it did not it would not be so devastating!!!! The critics making this comment have not "yet" come to the realization and real life of this disease.
If this small forum, creates this reactions, is a good perspective, maybe this way, dementia's patients will awake the world on it, and humans would turn more aware about a "FREE" disgrace that could happen to any one, then it could turn people's look towards them, and become more involved to this problem, which causes so much pain to so many. Lets hope it will work on the benefit of so many.
Hugs bosco2blessed
We document teen pregnancy, adultress affairs, interracial relationships, persons living with HIV & AIDS, Cancer, runaways, kidnappings, heart disease, STDs, parents murdering children, children mudering everyone -- Why can't we bring dementia to the big screen (or any platform) especially while its victim are alive and able to show the true story? This is such a major health issue which affects so many physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually. Showing someone like Lady Thatcher will bring more light to the fact that dementia DOES happen to anyone. I applaud the Thatcher family for their transparency as well as the makes of this production. I look forward to having the opportunity to see it.
I am 66, and I remember when no one would even utter the word "cancer" My grandmother called it "the big C" also. I thought it was just her, but now that I read these comments, I see it is international!!! Why would some people say this movie is exploitative? I have not seen it, wasn't going to, did not know much about Thatcher except she seemed an unpleasant person. But now I am curious.
I plan to see the movie. I think that it is important to create a different culture about dementia. I believe that the media have an incredible power in shaping our culture, for example the TV series "The big C" shows cancer in a way that can help people in looking in a different way to those who have it. When I was a child, nobody even mentioned the word "cancer" people said " the ugly disease " (I leave in Italy). Someone commented about my mother's dementia: "highly educated people do not get dementia" (she was trained as a primary school teacher). I thank Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher not for their political lives, but at least for the openness in speaking about their disease. Annie Girardot in France has been an incredible testimonial for Alzheimer. I hope that the image of people living with Alzheimer will change quickly, this will help the whole society in accepting better another aspect of life, which includes - for example - caregiving for a beloved relative for years, without being necessarily destroyed.
I think it is a great idea to film this movie. as a daughter,looking at my mom suffer,i need as much enlightment about this horrible disease.
Exploitive piece of cinema. nothing helpful about it, no good intended behind it.
Prayers bosco2blessed
Exploitive
I feel it's very important to shine a light on this devastating disease. If we hide it away that indicates that we are ashamed or embarrased by the condition of our loved one. We don't hesitate to show how other diseases affect people, but we place such a high premium on high mental functioning that sometimes we forget the person our loved one was (and still is). In dealing with my husband's Lewy Body dementia I have always placed a high premium on getting educated about this devastating disease. I don't shy away from talking about it with others and find I have gotten a great deal of support by doing so.
I have long been an admirer of Streep's work, I m looking forward to see the film. Cause this is a reality about a great Woman Mrs Tatcher, even m ' not into politics, unfortunately politics are part of our reality too everywhere. My point is, being a caregiver and having to face this in life, I see myself also suffering as a collateral victim. If I had the power to make a film about my mother, i would not doubt to show her as she was, and demonstrate the world how wonderful it was to have her once strong and loving, but how hard real life is nowadays suffering from this…so fragile and vulnerable.And anyone can suffer from it is time to face reality.
If balanced by the person's life as a productive person, showing the sad endings that we may face is not a bad thing. Focusing disproportionately on the losses that the later years may bring can seem to erase much of the earlier success. That is not a fair or desirable emphasis. Its sad to loose mental acuity, but that doesn't negate the impact of the fully functioning person.
I plan to see the movie. She was a formidable woman and I think it's very important for the public at large to see that dementia is a growing, very serious health issue. Maybe this movie will cause people to join a fight that may of us are currently right in the middle of. And maybe it will open the eyes of all those people that don't support their family member or friend with the disease. And maybe, just maybe, it will allow those who doubt the caregiver to see things with new eyes. Who knows? Maybe government officials will see this and think, "Well if it happened to her, it could happen to me. I better start fighting for more funding to find a cure."
It will be a must see!! No one seems to mind showing how other health issues affect the life of the one that is sick & their loved ones. What makes this any different? It's time for an awakening for dementia! Years ago when the doctor told us Mom had dementia I didn't realize just what that meant! It has been a trial and effort life ever since. Maybe it's because each person is different & the desease seems to do whatever it wants, whenever it wants.
Hugs aj4coco
Prayers bosco2blessed