Reflections on watching 'Suddenly, I Feel Unwell' — There was light even in the sadness

The other day, I watched the film 'Suddenly, I Feel Unwell'.

To be honest, I was surprised by how many themes were packed into this work, more than I had imagined.

Encounters between people.
Aging.
Illness.
The meaning of work.
The meaning of life.
Death.
The lives of people with disabilities.
Structural issues in society.
Ideals and reality.

It felt as though various problems facing modern society were condensed into a single film.

What left a particular impression on me was the scene of care depicted in a nursing home in the suburbs of Paris.

While the facility director upholds the ideal of 'humane care,' they are also facing staff shortages, the difficulty of staff training, and limited budgets.

Watching that, I thought,

'Ah, this problem is not unique to Japan.'

In the fields of medicine and welfare, issues such as labor shortages, low wages, maintaining the quality of care, and caring for the caregivers themselves are frequently discussed.

While I was surprised that every country shares similar worries, I also felt a strange sense of relief.

Of course, the problems have not been solved.

Even so, there is a certain saving grace in knowing that 'we are not the only ones carrying this burden.'

The theme of death is also depicted in this film.

However, it is not just a sad story.

While there are things lost as illness progresses, it also depicts how human connections deepen and new hope is born.

That is why what remained after watching it was not despair, but a quiet warmth.

The sound of the dialogue, where French and Japanese intersect, was also very beautiful, as if I were listening to music.

Despite dealing with heavy themes, it was also a gentle, calm, and healing experience.

And above all, what remained in my heart was the question of what it means to 'stand by someone'.

What does it mean to protect human dignity?

Beyond just talking about ideals, what can be done within the constraints of reality?

Perhaps things that seem impossible can be changed little by little through encounters with others and the accumulation of small practices.

I felt that kind of hope.

I think this is a work that will resonate not only with those involved in medicine and welfare, but also with those struggling with work, those caring for family members, and those thinking about the meaning of life.

It was a film that left me continuing a dialogue within my heart for a while even after leaving the theater.

What is human dignity?

What does it mean to stand by someone?
For those who want to think slowly about such things, I highly recommend this film.

*This article is a personal impression as a viewer. Please understand that there are various ways to perceive the work.