Educational Media Reviews Online

In 1999, Marcia Urbin Raymond and Dr. Nancy Carteron produced a documentary entitled, Stories of Lupus. The documentary looked at the lives of six people suffering from lupus. For Life: More Stories of Lupus, produced in 2002, is a sequel that looks back at the changes in the lives of many of the lupus sufferers who were involved in the original film. Because it lacks any significant technical medical discussion, if you are trying to get a better understanding of the etiology of the disease lupus, this is not necessarily the film for you. But if you wish to understand the impact of chronic disease on the lives of individuals and their families then you should view this film.

The causes of lupus are still not well understood. But the stories of the individuals depicted show apparently different causes for the onset of the disease, different symptoms and different long term prognosis. However, all experience a profound impact on the quality of their lives. The producer of the film, Marcia Urbin Raymond, also suffers from lupus. She tries to portray through the film that lupus is a journey of self-discovery and indeed many of the people in the documentary validate that thought. Despite difficulties ranging from divorce to financial hardship and physical disabilities, all the people portrayed have struggled and created for themselves a life of hope and some sense of normalcy within the framework of a chronic disease.