My Own Country

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 am not sure how I missed this movie. It says it was released in 1999. I stumbled onto this tonight on a cable channel. I was quite surprised to find out it is a "made for TV movie". This movie touched my heart and made me see things from different perspectives. What a rewarding life this Dr. must have. Based on a true story, it brings light to taboo subjects and how many different cultures and people deal with it. It will make you laugh, smile, cry and maybe even all at the same time.... so have a box of Kleenex handy. The acting in this movie was very good and surprised me. If you haven't seen it, it is a must see! I highly recommend this movie if you enjoy true stories of courage and drama.

/The latter part of my comment might almost be construed as preaching, but belonging in a risk-group can't leave me emotionally unaffected. I don't think I should feel apologetic about it.

This is one of those films that I would always prefer watching alone or in the company of someone very close.

While to some, Mira Nair's directing and the flow of the story is irritatingly slow; Instead, I think that is actually the idea: It's not about expecting to have a quickie (in whichever platonic sense) from this - The film's slowness does not impede it, but works as a means to absorb the viewer into the story, its scene, its look and feel.

Re-telling the story in my comment might be overdone, considering the fact that some have done it here before me anyways and through the course of time, will probably not be the last ones to do this.

Of course the film is about AIDS back in the 1980's, but it's really almost a documentary reminder of what the disease is actually about - in a world where some people, especially the youth, have not begun considering that they might as well be affected by this.

It's beginning to be sad once the mainstream media narrows (or has already narrowed) its attention span towards this just because the condition is 'less of a pain' or that its status has been degraded to 'chronic'... "Ignorance is a bliss," or what?

The film just shows through its characters that the persons who died of HIV/AIDS, were real and they were not some poor people far away in some distant country. They were the human embodiment of different personalities and types we all can see around us, whom we can well relate to. AIDS (among other sexually transmitted diseases) is one of the more serious ones that could be caught in the road of pursuing [physical] pleasure. We shouldn't stop being careful about it.

By the way, "My Own Country" is also 'one of those' films that I caught watching on Hallmark back when there was cable at where I live.

After reading the previous comments, I think that Rich106 has missed the point in his final comments. The movie remains close to the sentiment expressed in Dr. Verghese's book especially when it deals with him personally. To me, it is not as much about what is going on around him but instead about how these external things impact and change him as both a person and a physician. I've had the opportunity to hear Dr. Verghese speak and the man is truly remarkable. When watching the movie, keep in mind that these things happened and that there is a man out there today who has been transformed by them.

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.