65_RedRoses

“Sixty-five roses” is how Eva Markvoort's parents taught her to pronounce “cystic fibrosis” when she was diagnosed as a toddler. Now in her early 20s, the young woman from British Columbia wants to attend college, do work, and enjoy time with family and friends. Instead, as chronicled in this documentary from filmmakers Philip Lyall and Nimisha Mukerji, she does what she can between hospitalizations while waiting for a possible double-lung transplant. Eva's friendships with other CF patients must be conducted online to avert the risk of creating a life-threatening “superbug.” Two of Eva's closest Internet friends, Spirit-of-Kina and Megmucus, are also profiled here (“65_Redroses” is Eva's social-networking handle). Each faces different challenges, from lack of family support to problems with Kina's lung transplant, which doctors think her body is rejecting. Intense situations are interspersed with long periods of waiting (for a transplant, an e-mail, a coughing fit to subside), and several twists and surprises occur along the way, as well as some good news. A powerful documentary—airing on the Oprah Winfrey Network—that offers insights into the health and lifestyle challenges posed by cystic fibrosis, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (H. Seggel)