Sick was overall an incredibly powerful documentary. Through the very real portrayal of Bob Flanagan's life while dealing with his sickness one can gain a more in depth understanding of someone who engages in the lifestyle of BDSM. Before watching this documentary many questions as to why a person would participate in BDSM arise, however through this documentary many questions can be answered. Bob Flanagan's idea that S and M saved his life is quite fascinating because many people would view S and M as a dangerous or harmful lifestyle but yet he views it as a lifeline. In the film even his father talked about how watching the practices he partakes in was difficult, and similar to watching a trapeze artist while worrying they'll fall and die, but then seeing him land on his feet made him proud of his son. Another interesting aspect of this documentary was the portrayal of the relationship between Sheree and Bob. The relationship between the two appears to be very loving which is not what the average person would expect from a couple who practices BDSM. This relationship helps to challenge the stereotype of people who practice BDSM being cold and unloving. There were some incredibly graphic image in this film, however they were definitely necessary to help the viewer gain an understanding of Bob Flanagan's life. Although many of the S and M images were graphic and at times difficult to watch, the most difficult and powerful part of the documentary was the ending in which the viewer watches Bob's last moments and his death. The ending of the film gives it an even more real and heart wrenching feeling. Overall this documentary was incredibly powerful and informative.
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