This German/Belgian entry (English captions) to the 2013 Seattle Inter- national Film Festival was engaging, entertaining and reasonably true to life. It should be: This story is based on blogs posted by Sophie van der Stap during her treatment for a rare form of cancer from which only 15% of the patients survive. Screenwriter Kati Eyssen prepared this story for Marc Rothemund's capable direction.
These actors brought the characters to life:
- Lisa Tomaschewsky is Sophie (or Lydia, or Sara, or Sue, etc., it depends on which wig she's wearing), a lovely carefree young woman ready to take the world by storm until she sees a doctor about a persistent cough.
- Karoline Teska is Annabel who takes her friend to a wig shop when they realize she is going to lose all of her gorgeous hair. She adds that this will also save her the expense of a Brazilian hair removal treatment.
- David Rott is Rob, a good friend who is there when she needs him.
- Alice Dwyer is our heroine's mother, herself a breast cancer survivor. This Tiger Mom is matter of fact and highly organized. She marches into the hospital with a box of personal effects and has her daughter moved in before anyone can blink.
- Jasmin Gerat is Chantal, the breast cancer victim who befriends our gal during chemo.
Yes, I recognized the treatments, but wasn't traumatized by them. This is an upbeat, satisfying film.
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Here is a sample from SIFF:
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