The Beautiful Truth journal entry

     Cancer, it is really hard, being an American, to avoid knowing about at least three different causes that are searching for its cure. In Steve Kroschel’s newest film, “The Beautiful Truth,” some seemingly hidden truths are exposed regarding cancer.  Whether we have lost a family member to it, been diagnosed with it, or have simply seen countless ads/commercials surrounding it, the word cancer has become a brobdingnagian force here in America and beyond. Cancer is at the forefront of the multi-billion dollar medical industry, and is quite possibly the largest fund-raising cause in the world. Because of the affluent nature of the cancer “industry,” it is only right to question its validity, not cancer, but the answers given by many doctors, biologists, scientists, and cancer specialists that say there is not yet a cure. Such a prevalent idea deserves to be researched and questioned with great fervor by those who support cancer causes and those involved in any practice that deals with cancer. Kroschel believes in alternative treatments, especially those developed, tested, and proven by Dr. Max Gerson.

 

Dr. Max Gerson

     Though deceased, Dr. Gerson is seen as the core figure of alternative medication. He has a fair amount of books and research that have been made accessible by his family, who continue to push his work and believe in it. Filmmaker Steve Kroschel, a nature man himself, living in the middle of nowhere in Alaska for twenty years, has done extensive research about Dr. Gerson. He’s become an avid believer of Gerson’s large group of work. In the midst of his research, Kroschel found that there was a great deal of oppossition towards Gerson from the medical industry, and even uncovered what seemed to be a murder case surrounding Gerson’s death.

     Being a filmmaker, Kroschel decided to make a narrative film surrounding Gerson that attempted to bring light to his life, works, and mysterious death. The article I read, was again, an interview, but I was able to spark thoughts provoking enough to be worthy of discussion.

     While reading this interview I was struck with questions that have been really bothering me as of late. For example, does film really have the capability to have an effect on people that could in fact effectively change them, inspire them, or cause some sort of repentance? I have grappled with this idea regarding the major art forms over the last few years. Should the goal of the filmmaker be to display moving works of art simply as entertainment, not intending to have any long-lasting effect on the viewer? Throughout the last three years of my life I have been exploring many areas of film, and I have even begun to considered myself somewhat of a “thoughtful” viewer. I have also, like most suburbanite americans my age, seen a great number of films growing up. My parents were rabid movie watchers, it is them I blame for my habitual fixes of moving pictures. 

     Can a film be considered art if the intent is only to impose the filmmakers  views, cause, or ideals on the viewers? I think most films have intentions placed discreetly or blatantly by the those involved in filmmaking process. I do believed films can be considered art all the while having a some sort of idea that is being pushed. I also think that to be an effectively artistic filmmaker, one must be mindful of their own biases and pushy ideals. After reading a good number of reviews of “The Beautiful Truth,” I gathered the basic idea that Kroschel went much too far in imposing his view on others. It seems the film was stocked full of personal biases and dripping with a propagandistic style. 

     Right away, after finding out a little more about this film, I have up a bold red flag. Growing up in such a media centered universe, I am sick of bias ridden malarky that fills up all too many screens. I do not have all the answers regarding art, film, and intent, but I have stretched my mind a bit further through reading this article and researching the film. I hope to continue pondering these ideas and come to better conclusions or open conclusions. I am an ignorant viewer in many respects, considering I have read little about film, and film as a form of art. If anyone knows of any resources regarding these topics that they wish to tell me about, please do so.