THE C WORD – “C” is for change

According to the World Health Organization and corroborated by the Center for Disease Control, in 2012 there were 14,000,000 new cases of cancer and 8,200,000 deaths by cancer worldwide. In the U.S. in 2016 there were an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer and an expected death toll of 595,690. But what if over half of those could be avoided? That is the question that is explored in-depth in the documentary, THE C WORD.

Meghan L. O'Hara directs and is a participant in the THE C WORD. She brings a compelling perspective and understanding to the documentary that is informed by her own experience with cancer. In addition, Ms. O’Hara has experience in deconstructing the healthcare industry’s lucrative exploitation of consumers through her work helping produce Sicko, Michael Moore’s 2007 documentary that compares gains of the American healthcare industry to other nations and the HMO nightmares. In THE C WORD, the director parallels her own personal story, along with that of celebrated French neuroscientist and cancer revolutionary Dr. David Servan-Schreiber. Dr. Servan-Schreiber’s made courageous contributions to the documentary and, more importantly, to the idea and method of an anticancer way of life that could potentially help humanity turn the tables on cancer. Dr. Servan-Schreiber was the author of Anticancer: A New Way of Life, which presents people with and without cancer with a method to live more holistically and focus on eating well, managing stress, exercising and becoming aware of toxic environments in order to avoid cancer. Seems like a no-brainer, no?

THE C WORD also parallels obesity and other health issues that contribute to the risk of cancer and asks poignant questions about how Americans live and the industries that thrive off consumer’s ill-informed or poor choices. THE C WORD delves into policy issues surrounding the cash cow that is cancer, obesity and toxic products. Viewers who live informed lives may not be surprised by the results, but those who are skeptical may want to challenge themselves and see THE C WORD. One of the persuasive elements of the film is that it is balanced and the participants do not make claims about the magic of their process or guarantee any cure—they are simply honest about their experiences and as smart people, have connected the dots that most people simply ignore. It’s a little like in one of the 1990’s Absolutely Fabulous episode when Edwina (Eddie), who is an overweight, self-absorbed, image-obsessed, a heavy partier, public relations executive complains to her daughter (Saffie) about her dead-end efforts to lose weight via pills, diets and procedures:

Saffie: Look, mum. All you've got to do is eat less and take a bit of exercise.

Eddie: Sweetie, if it was that easy, everyone would be doing it…

But according to THE C WORD, it really can be that easy; just don’t tell food and pharma companies that! The C Word’s an indictment of a trillion-dollar processed food industry that thrives while consumers get sick, leaving them and underserved communities undernourished and overweight. Viewers walk away with a sense that they are the guinea pigs for a dangerous economic model that chooses profit over people and turns their bodies into breeding grounds for disease—Cancer prominent among them.

THE C WORD drives home the idea that in order to fight cancer, one needs to be proactive and avoid cancer; for many this means making a big change in lifestyle. THE C WORD is refreshing in that it doesn’t pretend that change is easy or a guarantee, but it’s the best chance people have and it is up to viewers to make decisions on what the “C” will mean to them.

Showtimes:

- Art House-

Monday, 1/30

5:30 & 8:30 pm

Run time: 1:30 h

Movie Rating: Not rated