Sick

This documentary, put together by film-maker Kirby Dick, focuses on Bob Flanagan, not only an extreme masochist, but also a cystic fibrosis sufferer who managed to live to 43, a record-breaking age for the disease. His way of dealing with the disease was to focus on his pain in other ways. Yes, this film is not for the squeamish (although the only UK TV showing I'm aware of did remove the most graphic sequence), but what comes through is the simple courage of this man who chose to deal with his life in his own way, with the help of his devoted partner, Sheree Rose.

There is a particularly chilling sequence involving a young girl who sees Flanagan as a hero; while some other bits are incredibly touching - his 'poem' describing his condition and solution; the sequences following his death; and funny - 'Forever Lung'. You really should see this documentary, if only for its total honesty and openness in showing the reality of this crazy, but brave person. It will stay in your mind a long, long time.

This is definitely one of my all time favorite movies. At first glance it looks like one of those movies that might appeal to the 'Faces of Death' crowd or porno fetish lovers, it dealing with S&M and bondage and Bob Flanagan nailing his penis to a board and all, but this is actually a powerful moving insight into the life, and death (he does die in the end) of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist, and one of the longest survivors of cystic fibrosis. The movie delves not only into Bob performance art but also into his personal life, and an interesting life indeed.

This movie is definately not for the squeemish, and does deliver some very bizzarre stuff, and yes it graphically up close shows the nailing th penis in the board. But it's so much more than that. Bob Flanagan was definitely one of the most interesting individuals I can think of, and this movie, I think captures that quality perfectly!

Check it out, if you can find it.

So much has been said and written about the more sensationalistic and shocking aspects of this movie (yes, he hammers his penis to a board) but very little has been said about what it's REALLY about - the will to survive, and a suprising, moving love story. 'Sick' is one of the most honest movies ever made. Bob Flanagan let's us into his life in a way very few people have. He's a sadomasochist and does things most of us would never conceive of doing, sure, but by the end of this movie all you can think of is that he was a hell of a nice guy who will be surely missed by his family and friends. The hammer scene is unforgettable but much more confrontational are the scenes of Bob's death. These alone make this movie unique and truly impossible to forget. I strongly recommend this powerful movie to everyone with an open mind and heart.

I had the chance to see this movie at the First Annual NYC S/M Film Festival in October 2000.

The movie depicts a very honest view of his enthusiasm in Consensual Sado-Masochism and other BDSM activities. Not only did Bob Flanagan engage in BDSM as a performance artist, but he also engaged in it as part of his lifestyle. Viewers should be advised, that there are some very extreme presentations of Consensual Sado-Masochism in this film.

Throughout the documentary, we see very revealing interactions between him and his Dominant "Mistress" Rose, and we are shown a very healthy and loving relationship which is centered around a BDSM lifestyle.

While I would assert that Bob's lifestyle was healthy, it's very clear that as a sufferer of Cystic Fibrosis, his health was never good. Even though a diagnosis of CF, usually means a death sentence by the time a person reaches their early 20's, Bob Flanagan lived an amazing and eccentric life until his 40's.

This documentary can go from absolute joy to utter sadness in a few seconds. Despite his sickness, and his impending death, Bob Flanagan lived with an incredible zest for life, love, and Masochism.

This was a great movie and truly what I would consider one of the greatest love stories ever filmed.

Yes, this movie is about illness, the dying process and death. But what it truly is, is an in-depth examination of the loving, nontraditional relationship between a master and her slave. There are so many ranges of emotions expressed by both parties. It shows the selflessness of the two, as well as the selfishness (at one point, Sheree expresses her anger about Bob's dwindling sex drive, despite that fact that he is clinically dying).

What I found particularly touching about this film was the inner workings of Bob and Sheree's relationship. He chose to deal with his physical (and emotional) pain by inflicting more pain on himself, and Sheree played into his needs so incredibly. There is a lot to be said about someone who stays with someone knowing the oncoming doom. There is also a lot to be said about a relationship between two people who fit so completely perfectly that every strange want and need is satisfied by the other.