Since 1985, October has been designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This annual international health campaign aims to raise awareness about this disease, addressing issues such as prevention, early detection, treatment, and palliative care.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in 12 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. That is why, throughout this month, we are encouraged to increase discussion and awareness, as well as to contribute to raising funds for research into this medical condition.
To pay tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also known as “Pinktober,” we bring you a selection of educational and inspiring films. We hope that, if you have experienced cancer directly or indirectly, you will find hope and comfort in these stories.
These film productions are a significant tool for addressing the complex situation faced by women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.
Decoding Annie Parker (2013)
Directed by Steven Bernstein and based on a true story, this film is about Annie Parker, a breast cancer survivor whose diagnosis helped doctors discover the BRCA1 gene, which proved that breast cancer can be hereditary in women.
The plot focuses on two women whose lives are intertwined through this disease: Annie Parker and Mary-Claire King. Annie Parker (Samantha Morton) sees her mother and sister die of breast cancer. After receiving her own diagnosis of the disease, she refuses to accept the doctors’ explanation that it is “bad luck.”
Unwaveringly convinced that there is a genetic link in her family, she begins a tireless search for answers and that is when she meets the brilliant geneticist Mary-Claire King (Helen Hunt), who has been searching for years for a genetic link to breast cancer.
Eventually, Mary-Claire King’s tireless work culminates in the discovery of the BRCA1 gene on chromosome 17, the first gene associated with hereditary breast cancer. Her pioneering research laid the foundation for the study of cancer genetics and had a profound impact on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this and other diseases.
Both in the film and in real life, this important scientific discovery validated Annie’s intuition and forever changed the lives of future patients.
Mondays at Racine (2012)
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject, Mondays at Racine focuses on a beauty salon located on Long Island, where two sisters, Rachel and Cynthia, open their doors one Monday a month to offer free services to women affected by cancer.
It is well known that for many patients, the loss of hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes is a devastating part of treatment. The documentary, directed by Cynthia Wade, shows how beauty services, such as group head shaving or makeovers, help patients feel more comfortable with themselves and regain a sense of normalcy.
Mondays at Racine conveys a message of solidarity and resilience, reminding patients that they are not fighting alone. And the fact is, the salon becomes a meeting place and support group where people can share their experiences with other women who are going through similar situations.
Five (2011)
True to its title, Five is an anthology of five short films that explore the impact of breast cancer on the lives of completely different women.
Directed by Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore, Patty Jenkins, and Penelope Spheeris, the film offers a multifaceted and moving insight into the experience of breast cancer, showing that there is no single way to live through it.
Five humanizes the disease and addresses issues such as self-image, relationships, sexuality, and fear of the future.
Pink Ribbons (2011)
Beyond the positive intention represented by the “pink ribbon,” Léa Pool’s documentary offers an informed, critical, and combative perspective on the commodification of the cause and the way it has been exploited in recent years.
Pink Ribbons questions the way breast cancer has become a business opportunity for certain unscrupulous companies. It explores the concept of pinkwashing, whereby companies that produce goods or services that may contain carcinogens associate themselves with the pink ribbon to improve their public image.
The film, which runs for 1 hour and 37 minutes, gives a voice to patients and activists who demand greater transparency and a more honest and respectful approach to the disease.
Living Proof (2008)
Living Proof tells the true story of Dr. Dennis Slamon (Harry Connick Jr.), an oncologist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), who contributed to the development of the breast cancer drug Herceptin, a targeted therapy that is still considered a significant breakthrough in the fight against the disease.
The plot highlights the significant challenges Slamon faced over eight years (from 1988 to 1996) in obtaining funding and approval for his research, including skepticism from the medical community and the rigorous clinical trial process. Living Proof is not limited to a strictly scientific perspective, but also examines the personal circumstances of the patients who participated in the study.
For the general public, the film is an excellent introduction to the concept of targeted therapies in cancer treatment, as it clearly and concisely explains how Herceptin works differently from traditional chemotherapy.
Living Proof is an adaptation of Robert Bazell’s book, HER-2: The Making of Herceptin, a Revolutionary Treatment for Breast Cancer, and was written by screenwriter Vivienne Radkoff.
Paula Cale, Angie Harmon, and Amanda Bynes appear in supporting roles.
Terms of Endearment (1983)
We conclude our Breast Cancer Awareness Month selection with the feature film Terms of Endearment, directed, written, and produced by James L. Brooks.
Winner of five Academy Awards, the comedy-drama explores the complex and often tense relationship between Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine), a stubborn widow, and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). Spanning 30 years, the film portrays the mother-daughter bond, as well as the individual challenges they both face, including Emma’s marriage, Aurora’s romance with an astronaut, and ultimately, a breast cancer diagnosis that tests both their courage and strength.
Despite being a film of strong emotions, its honest and nuanced portrayal of the disease may be valuable to some patients and their families.