Sick

Going into this flick I really didn't know much about Mr. Flanagan. I knew he was obviously a super-masochist (thanks to the DVD cover), and I knew that he was involved in a Nine Inch Nails video. But that's it. When the credits began to roll, you end up with a fantastic idea on who he was and how he lived his life. It's one of the most intimate and best documentaries I've seen.

Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan is a perfect title for this documentary. You discover that Mr. Flanagan does indeed have a hobby that most would consider "sick", but also that Mr. Flanagan suffers from Cystic Fybrosis. A lung disease where the death rate is high and the people who do suffer from it, usually die at a very young age. Truthfully for me, the masochism and the torture play a second fiddle to his life long struggle with cystic fibrosis. Sure seeing his unbelievable sexual performances are truly stunning, but what is more stunning is how he lives his life. Going into this movie I really wasn't expecting such an intimate and touching piece of film. There are some incredibly graphic scenes mixed with fantastic humor, and then there are scenes that display some of the most powerful moments of emotion I've seen on film or in real life.

In a perfect world Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan would be a movie widely seen. It's definitely one of the best documentaries I've ever seen and a movie I'll be recommending for years and years to come.

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 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.

though I was generally aware of his "performance masochism." I met Bob as a very bright, gifted poet during the early 1970s. I was in my 30s and finishing my post-doc psych internship at the MH Clinic serving Watts and South Central LA. Bob's Cystic Fibrosis was unremarkable to me insofar as my cerebral palsy was, presumably, unremarkable to him. Writing was Bob's fulltime gig. I had hopes of "quitting my daytime gig" - head-shrinking - when/if my own writing ever supported my family. Bob and I were cordial, never close. I admired and, occasionally, envied Bob.

I forced myself to see the movie. It works. Masochism discomforts me in the extreme - yet Bob remains clear, kind articulate as ever. His 'dominitrix' comes across similarly. The truly chilling moments of "Sick" are Bob Flanagan's mother during her brief moments on camera.

Rest well, Bob.

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.