30 / 52
CULTURE
CINEMA
“John Q,” which bears the signature of director Nick
Cassavetes who is the son of director John Cassavetes
and actress Gena Rowlands, one of the biggest stars
of Hollywood, is a film adapted from a real-life story
and contains overtones from the life of the daughter
of the director. While the director’s daughter Sasha
was struggling to overcome a difficult period because
of her heart condition, director Nick Cassavetes
was determined to shoot a
film about the skews in the
healthcare system and he made
“John Q” completely for this
reason. Starring the Oscar award
winning Denzel Washington,
James Woods and Kimberly Elise,
the film tells the drama of a father
who puts up a fight for his son’s
heart operation. According to the
story, the life of John Q Archibal,
who works in a factory, changes
completely when he learns that
his son Michael has fallen sick while playing a match.
Michael’s heart, which is full of life, is thrice bigger than
it should be and he needs a heart transplant to live. John
Q faces this disaster while misfortunes in his working
life follow him at the same time. John Q Archibal, whose
financial situation isn’t good, is devastated when he
finds out the insurance doesn’t cover the expenses of
the treatment, which is necessary to keep his son alive.
He learns that he should find a huge sum of money in a
short time. Even though John Q sells all of his goods and
knocks on every door, he cannot find enough money
for the operation.
Eventually, the hospital management decides
to release the cardiac patient, Michael, since the
treatment expenses are too high to be covered. To
save his son, John Q desperately takes a group of
hospital employees hostage including the heart
surgeon, as well as some patients and visitors.
His only purpose is to save his son’s life. The film
reflects the problems of the American healthcare
system and it has been supported by Americans.
Denzel Washington fascinates audiences from the
beginning to the end of the film. While the famous
actor does miracles as a father who can go so far
as taking the hospital hostage for his son when all
John Q
Director:
Nick Cassavetes
Cast:
Denzel Washington
James Woods
Kimberly Elise
Genre:
Drama
Year:
2002
A FATHER’S SCREAM
John Q
Starring Denzel
Washington, John
Q is an extremely
emotional movie
based on a real life
story. The film also
strongly criticizes the
American healthcare
system.
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October-November-December 2015