Five is an emotional film consisting of five different stories with a common thread. Besides the fact that they all focus on breast cancer, a disease that effects one in eight females, there is one common character tying all the stories together.
The Stories
The first story is the most emotional. If you can get through this one without a tissue, you’re doing good. From then on the stories become more inspiring.
“Charlotte” is the first short film and stars Ginnifer Goodwin as a woman stricken by breast cancer in the early 1960s. Her very young daughter Pearl is unaware of what is happening to her mother. Pearl is the thread running through the five films. This first film is a poignant story that is extremely emotional as young Pearl experiences the last days with her mother.
“Mia” is played by Patricia Clarkson. This story combines both humor and emotions as Mia battles stage four breast cancer. She beats the odds only to discover that she is going to live. The humor comes in when Mia looks back at her life after her original diagnosis and realizes she has spent all her money and burned some bridges, all because she thought she was going to die. Now what is she supposed to do?
The third short film is about “Lili” (Rosario Dawson), an independent lawyer who is not only dealing with her diagnosis of breast cancer, but also family issues. It enforces the fact that even, and more so especially, when confronting difficulties in life, family and friends are important.
“Cheyenne” is played by Lindsy Fonseca. Cheyenne is the story of an exotic dancer who discovers she has breast cancer and is worried that her husband won’t be interested in her once her breasts are gone. This is a touching story about true love.
And “Pearl” (Jeanne Tripplehorn) is the oncologist who treats all of these patients with love and care. She saw her mother die from the disease and understands what it takes to face and challenge breast cancer.
The Directors
These five short films are directed by five different directors. Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore, Patty Jenkins, and Penelope Spheeris all tackle the delicate subject of breast cancer. This disease effects one in eight females, however men can also get breast cancer.
This anthology touches on death, surgery, treatments, and ultimately survival. As a breast cancer survivor myself, I can attest to that last fact.
Breast Cancer and Lifetime
For more than seventeen years Lifetime has been dedicated to research for the cure of breast cancer. Lifetime’s Stop Breast Cancer for Life initiative has been bringing women the most up-to-date information about the disease and treatments.
By partnering with its cable affiliates, organizations and its advertising sponsors, the network has collected more than 25 million signatures urging Congress to pass the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which would end those “drive-through mastectomies” where many women are forced to go home from the hospital the same day as their surgery. Lifetime is urging the health insurance industry to allow patients up to 48 hours in the hospital after a mastectomy.
Five
Five is both entertaining as well as educational. Yes, it is emotional. Yes it is dramatic. And yes, it is important for audiences to see. These five stories are linked by one amazing character - Pearl. The message in this film is that early detection is important and breast cancer can be survived. But even though it is survivable, a cure must still be found.
Co-stars in the film include Bob Newhart, Annie Potts, Jennifer Lweis, Tony Shalhoub, Jeffrey Tambor, David Eigenberg, Josh Holloway, and many more.
Five premiers on Lifetime Monday, October 10, 2011 at 9 pm ET/PT. And remember, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. If you haven’t had your mammogram recently, it’s time to get it.
