Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist (1997)

Director:

Kirby Dick

Release Date:

7 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Documentary about writer and performance artist Bob Flanagan who died at 43 of cystic fibrosis. His...

Plot Keywords:

Dominatrix | Controversial | Performance Art | Sadomasochism | Self Mutilation

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Kathe Burkhart	...	Interviewer
Kirby Dick	...	Interviewer
Bob Flanagan	...	Himself
Sheree Rose	...	Herself
Rita Valencia	...	Interviewer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sarah Doucette	...	Herself

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:18 (cut) | Australia:R | France:-16 | New Zealand:R18

Company:

Sick-the Life and Death of Bob Flanagan-Supermasochist

Quotes:

Bob Flanagan: I want a wealthy collector to finance an installation in which a video camera will be placed in the coffin with my body, connected to a screen on the wall, and whenever he wants to, the patron can see how I'm coming along.

Movie Connections:

Features "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993)

No pain, no gain

One of the most disturbing, disgusting, funny, touching, and beautiful films ever made. It's hard to find the words to properly describe this bio-pic of Bob Flanagan (one of the longest survivors of Cystic Fibrosis) but perhaps the best word is simply "raw".

Sure it's got a shot of a person nailing their privates to a block of wood while "If I had a hammer" plays cheerfully in the background. But that doesn't mean the film aims to offend or make the audience vomit. What's at the heart of this film is one mans lifelong struggle with a painfully fatal illness (CF). It's only through his embrace of the pain that he was able to live such a long and successful life (poet, comedian, and performance artist) and his ability to inspire and live his life to the fullest is something several many 'able bodied' people could only dream of.

Most touching is the scene where Bob is visited by a young Toronto girl with CF who wanted to meet him as part of the 'Make a Wish' Foundation (yes, you read correctly). When the film was screened at the Toronto Film Fest that same young girl was present (and a few years older) and attributed her prolonged life to the example set by Bob Flanagan.

Nails and blocks of wood aside, this film is NOT for everyone. In fact it's for a small few. It is very real and very powerful. But if you can stomach it, you'll see what a great documentary should look like.