katrinaolson.ca - Living Proof (Calgary Film 2017)

Posted on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 04:00 PM

Living Proof (Calgary Film 2017)

Review by Katrina Olson-Mottahed x CalgaryMovies.com

A KO Review by Emily Mody

Living Proof is a Canadian feature length documentary film directed by Matt Embry. This film follows Matt, a thirty-nine year old man who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of nineteen. As he struggles to come to grips with the inherent corruption of the medical profession, he wants to help people with MS maintain a high quality of life. He shares the benefits he has found from emphasizing diet and lifestyle changes for the past twenty years.

I really enjoyed Living Proof. I think that there is a very positive message about change in this film and not just on a personal level but also on a systemic level. Matt empowers people who have been diagnosed with MS to take control of their own health. He and others like him allow people to see that there is actual hard scientific evidence to back the benefits of diet and lifestyle change even though it is not talked about on a systemic level. There are various systems in place that serve as obstacles to Matt on his journey. The main case study observed in this film is the MS Society of Canada. While Matt works to help those who are afflicted with the same condition that he has, he comes up against corruption within the medical system. In some ways, it is very frustrating and difficult to watch as Matt continues to struggle against the system. I suppose it is preciously this frustration that birthed this documentary, so I cannot begrudge him that. There were definitely upsetting moments in this film and it is something to be aware of, if any of this is a triggering topic for you.

I would compare this documentary to a film directed by Kris Carr entitled Crazy Sexy Cancer. This film follows Kris Carr on her journey of being diagnosed with stage four liver cancer. She attempts to make a documentary about finding a cure but the story evolves into something very different. These films are actually very similar and expose very few differences except of course, for the condition that the filmmakers are talking about. I suppose that Matt focuses a little less on the personal aspects of his life while Kris Carr seems to emphasize personal growth much more, particularly towards to the conclusion of Crazy Sexy Cancer.

I would recommend Living Proof to anyone with an interest in documentaries about health and quality of life. This film contains coarse language. It also discusses, in great detail, the emotional traumas that revolve around living with an incurable and ultimately life-threatening condition. Living Proof will be screening as a part of the 18th Calgary International Film Festival 2017. It will be playing on Saturday, September 30th at 9:30pm at the Globe Cinema. It is also important to note that the Globe Cinema is not wheelchair accessibility if you have mobility concerns.

Calgary Showtimes: Living Proof >