The Sea Inside (Mar adentro)

Winner of the 2005 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, Alejandro Amenábar’s The Sea Inside is based on the true story of Ramón Sampedro, a Spaniard who was paralyzed in a diving accident at the age of 25 and spent the next thirty years of his life fighting a legal campaign to win the right to end his life with dignity. Javier Bardem stars as Ramón, a former ship’s mechanic who is tenderly cared for on a Galician farm by four members of his family: sister-in-law Manuela (Mabel Rivera), older brother José (Celso Bugallo), his father Joaquin (Joan Dalmau), and teenage nephew Javi (Tamar Novas). Ramón’s upbeat attitude and warm smile belie his burning wish to bring his life to a dignified end. “When you can’t escape, and you depend on others so much, you learn to cry by smiling,” he says. The confines of Ramón’s world are opened up by the arrival of two women: beautiful but ailing Julia (Belén Rueda) a lawyer helping with his cause, and Rosa (Lola Dueñas), a factory worker and single mother who wants to change his mind. Each develops an intense relationship with the charismatic Ramón that changes their lives, and his. The film’s numerous honours include 14 Goya Awards (the Spanish Oscars), among them Best Director, Best Film and Best Actor. Colour, 35mm, in Spanish with English subtitles. 125 mins.

Frames of Mind is a monthly film event utilizing film and video to promote professional and community education on issues pertaining to mental health and illness.

Post-screening discussion with Dr. Romayne Gallagher, Physician Program Director for the Providence Health Care Palliative Care Program, and Clinical Professor, UBC Division of Palliative Care.

Co-sponsored by the UBC Division of Palliative Care.

Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky, Director of Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.

For more information on the film, see the Jan – Feb Pacific Cinémathèque Program Guide, or visit http://www.cinematheque.bc.ca/Jan_Feb_07/fom.htm