The Best of Men

The will to survive is one thing - the will to keep going on, to really make the best of ones situation a completely different one. One can "live", but actually not really be "alive" for many reasons. And I don't even mean depression and other stuff like that.

This is an encouraging story about people who lost quite a lot (literally) during war time ... but were encouraged by a (jewish) doctor to bring new meaning to their lifes and give them new goals to achieve. Something to look forward to ... so quite inspiring story, with some things that may offend people, but considering the mind set the individuals were under ... and the stress and all that ... you should be able to understand and feel for them.

This was darn good television, and it was family safe. A few cuss words, a couple of sexual innuendos, some drinking and more than a little smoking but it did take place during the lung cancer generation.

The story was about a Jewish refugee doctor in World War II England who truly revolutionized the care of paraplegics and was the founder of the Paralympic Games and was knighted in 1966 by Queen Elizabeth II.

You may think that the story is too nice to be true. I looked Dr. Ludwig Guttmann up on Wikipedia and they repeat the same basic facts.

The production values were adequate and the cast was quite good. The story is also quite inspirational.

As I try to find the words to accurately describe this incredible true story, I realized that I was at a loss for words. Dr. Guttmann was ahead of his time and a truely remarkable man. One of the best movie's I have seen.

Based on a true story, this is a well acted, moving and occasionally funny drama with a great cast. Eddie Marsan rarely disappoints and is typically good here - I can't attest to the quality of his German accent - but he presents Dr Guttmann as a somewhat obsessive and eccentric but highly dedicated champion of individualised medicine. Rob Brydon is good too as the acerbic Welshman who hides his fear in humour. George Mackay is perfectly cast as the young soldier on an emotional journey, struggling to cope with his new disabilities.

What stands out most, for me, is the realistic interaction of the men and women on the ward. There is plenty of banter and innuendo and the sexual politics seem relatively realistic for the time period.

I note that this was made by the BBC in 2012. My suspicions are that if this was made today the Diversity police would render it farcically ahistorical in order to be 'sensitive' - this would not only dishonour those portrayed, but given that the message of the story is that compassion sometimes involves tough decisions and not treating people like victims, such contemporary representation would make the story pointless.

I had this saved in my queue on Netflix for quite some time and finally watched it this evening. I'm very glad I finally got around to checking it out. I was surprised to come to this site and see only two reviews.

Based on a true story, it describes the pioneering work of Dr Ludwig Guttmann with paraplegic patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. It is a made for TV movie but in my opinion it had more of a major motion picture feel.

I'm really not much on writing reviews, but felt compelled to do so for this title. Well written, well shot and an unbelievably inspiring story. I can't recommend it more highly.