Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert's astonishing documentary A Lion in the House, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was later broadcast on PBS' Independent Lens series, follows the lives of five patients—ranging in age from seven to 19—from the pediatric cancer ward at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, all of whom display uncommon maturity. Refreshingly free of the soapy melodramatics that are par for the course on TV hospital programs, the film focuses on the genuine emotions experienced by the young patients, their long-suffering families, and the dedicated hospital staff. Shot over a six-year span, A Lion in the House shares all of the heartache and difficult decisions that arise for each patient, including relapses, the gamble of new therapies when older treatments fail, and the challenge for the young people to live normal lives despite their illnesses. Bognar and Reichert (who are the parents of a teenage cancer survivor) have created an epic film (nearly four hours) on a devastating subject. DVD extras include deleted scenes, an interview with the filmmakers, and a “making-of” featurette. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
A Lion in the House
(2007) 2 discs. 282 min. DVD: $26.95. Docurama (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 1-4229-1503-4. Volume 24, Issue 1
A Lion in the House
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