My Own Country

Yesterday I watched this tv production, and I was very disappointed.

I didn't have big expectations when it was a tv production, but the complete movie was pain with no ending. I felt it lasted for 3 hours, but it was just me who was bored to death. Every minute was a long struggle and I really fought hard to stay away from the "turn off"-switch.

The movie is about a doctor (Dr. Verghese) who gets a lot of AIDS-patients, and most of them die during the movie. It is hard for Verghese to live with, so his family gets punished with his frustrations. However this movie has problems showing both sides, it mostly focuses on his conversations with the patients, and sometimes we see flicks from his home, but we don't get much. The difficulties to show more than one part of Verghese's life doesn't get any better with the poor acting from Naveen Andrews, a man I (hopefully) can't see in any good future movies.

I believe it got 7,6 because of the subject (taboo?), but I'm sure that there are better movies about this subject on the market. Stay away from this movie, it does not deserve more than 3/10.

I enjoyed seeing the portrayal of Southern rural culture, Indian_Americans, different social classes, gay vs straight, doctor vs patient, husband vs wife all together dealing with terminal illness (AIDS). Since I'm familiar with all of these I can vouch for their accuracy. One drawback was a bit too much softness and sentimentality especially by the primary character, the doctor. A more hard-nosed approach, as shown by the ER TV show doctors, would have been more interesting.

I just caught this on late night cable and stayed up until 3 AM to see the end. I was so moved by the acting - especially Marisa Tomei and Glenne Headly. Naveen Andrews was very fine, too. But Marisa's compassionate character was truly award-worthy, IMO. Hal Holbrook's storyline was beautiful, as well. And I hadn't realized that Marisa's real life brother was an actor (and portrayed her brother in this film).

We have tended to push the AIDS story on the back burner these days, but this was a meaningful portrayal of what one doctor went through, in a very unusual setting. I loved the inclusion of his family and culture into the story. If all the medical staff were really as supportive as portrayed, then it was an amazing place to get care.

One of my favorite lines from the movie was from the Doctor's loyal assistant (perhaps secretary, or clinic manager) who commented (to the effect) that she would give anything to be loved by a man as much as the male gay partners loved each other.

I recorded it so I can watch it again, I missed the very beginning. But I definitely thought it was beautiful and worth watching (and staying up very late to see through!)

I won't summarize the plot, that's been done in other reviews. What is fascinating about the movie is its unique way of filming, the characters that touch one's heart and the choice of people who are in the movie. The setting is removed from the typical AIDS movie set in an urban center, which makes it even more compelling and then you add an Indian doctor who has probably faced prejudice in this country and it's a powerful statement. The 80s were a holocaust for persons with AIDS. No money was available for very much at the time in rural areas. The actor who played the doctor was a remarkable testament to what medicine is about: pain when you can't help someone get well, troubles at home; raw emotions; I would recommend this movie for anyone to begin to understand what having AIDS in the 80s in a rural area was like. Even the smalltown gay bar is/was typical of what the gay bars are like in small towns. Tears roll if you really get engaged with the movie!! If you don't, then you probably don't connect with the issues presented. Another masterful showpiece from Showtime...another perspective from Showtime who also did "Behind the Red Door" this year!! BRAVO!!!

I read the book and the film is very true to it. My brother died of AIDs and the way the medical community treated him is very well documented in this film. The actor who plays Dr. Verghese is very good- he is able to show both his compassion and frustration with the other people in the medical community. A lot has changed, but the film is an accurate account of AIDS in the 1980's in a rural community. I also liked the music- Indian and the part the wife played- her dancing was exquisite.