IMPULSE #3: Representation of Epilepsy in Back for Good (2017)

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While conducting research about the topic of epilepsy I came across the EMDb – Epilepsy Movie Database and was curious what movies I would find and how epilepsy as a disease is represented in modern cinema. I decided to host a movie night accompanied with friends and decided to watch the following movie. For my part I payed attention to the way of how epilepsy is represented.

The german tragicomedy movie „Back for Good“, directed by Mia Spengler and released in 2017, deals about the story of former reality TV star Angie, who is forced to move back into her mother’s house in her hometown after going through drug withdrawal. She is about to live with her overprotective mother Monica and her pubescent sister Kiki, who was diagnosed with epilepsy and is bullied at school. Angie herself is moderately successful, but hopes to become a candidate for the next season of Dschungelcamp, a reality show on german television, and have a comeback. The movie incorporates a culture clash, where the b-list celebrity world meets the life in the province.

The relationship between the sisters is tense, but as soon as mother Monica needs to stay in hospital, Angie has to take responsibility for her sister Kiki. This unexpected burden lets the two sisters approach each other.

Although the movie incorporates comedy elements and has overall bizarre characteristics, expert opinions highlight the high fidelity of how epilepsy is portrayed. The movie puts emphasis on a realistic and responsible representation of epilepsy. It displays how a family structure can be complicated and societal stigmatization reinforces self-worth, self-perception and social isolation.

First of all, Angie did not know about her sister’s diagnosis. Not only because of their bad relationship with each other, her mother Monica decided to not tell her older daughter about it. It may be assumed that Monica does not want to put too much attention to her daughter’s disease, because Angie’s work as a TV star means publicity.

Kiki has to wear a noticeable helmet, which protects her in case she experiences an epileptic seizure. She feels ashamed to wear a helmet in school, which gives bullies at school a target and results in her own self-isolation. Her mother limits Kiki’s freedom in the way she takes care of her daughter. When Kiki becomes a victim of cyberbullying, her mother sees herself powerless. The movie plays with the contrast of irresponsible drug abuse and uncertain chronic illness, independence and dependence. This becomes clear, when Angie orders food at a fast food drive-in and Kiki lists, what she can’t eat because of her illness. When Angie and Kiki become closer, it is shown how rarely Angie knows something about her sister’s disease. Kiki needs to explain what can happen to her and how she experiences her individual form of epilepsy. Compared to her mother Monica, who acts withdrawing and protective, Angie is characterized by a more self-conscious and confrontative nature. As soon as she witnesses Kiki being bullied at school, she faces the bullies in an aggressive as well as violent way, making threats to Kiki’s schoolmates.

The jury of Deutsche Film- und Medienbewertung (FBW), a german governmental institution which reviews movies regarding their artistic, documentary or film-historical significance, awards Back for Good with the highest status „Prädikat besonders wertvoll“. Besides its cinematic quality, relevant aspects that led to this decision were the acting performance of main actress Kim Riedel (Angie) and the movie’s authentic and non-judging representation of the environment, where the story takes place. Another added value is the questioning of social tolerance and how to interact with people, that are different.

The movie got awarded in 2017 and 2018 as Young Talent Award of the DEFA foundation, Prize of the Jury of German-Language Film Critics, Best Film of Studio Hamburg and Biberacher Filmfestspielen as well as Best Debut Film of weekly journal Bunte.

Back for Good manages to show the challenges persons with epilepsy face on a daily basis by putting them into the context of a complex family history. Medical as well as social and emotional aspects and their impacts on affected people and their environment are integral part of the plot. By combining humor and seriousness, the film succeeds in making the subject of epilepsy accessible to a wider audience while promoting greater understanding and acceptance.

Resources

https://filmdatenbank.dgfe.info/index.html

https://www.fbw-filmbewertung.com/film/back_for_good

https://www.epd-film.de/filmkritiken/back-good

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_for_Good_(Film)