Beauty Does Lie: The Untold Story of Autoimmune Diseases 2006
Distributed by Fanlight Productions, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Courtney G. Smith
Directed by Courtney G. Smith
DVD, color, 46 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Autoimmune Diseases, Relationships, Support Groups, Chronic Disease
Date Entered: 06/11/2008
Reviewed by Ernarosa Tominich, MLS, Trocaire College Library, Buffalo NYSeven African American women meet as a support group. They present with varied diseases of the auto immune system including Sjogren’s syndrome, pernicious anemia, myasthenia gravis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Autoimmune disease is a debilitating chronic condition often misdiagnosed as psychiatric.
How were these women first diagnosed? What emotional, physical, psychological and career changes are necessary to live a productive life? Each member of this strong core group describes her individual symptoms, tests, diagnosis, medications and ailments that arise as side effects of prescribed treatment. In addition to sharing useful feedback, the group agrees that a strong support system, faith, trust, as well as career adjustments make living with autoimmune disease “doable.” The narrative summaries include medical feedback from two physicians, Tonya Fuller, MD. and Adrienne Burford Foggs, MD, SC.
Very easy to comprehend, this narrative documentary fits the needs of a general audience eager for information about living and coping with autoimmune diseases.
Beauty Does Lie is highly recommended with some reservations, as the explanation of some member’s medicinal regimen is rather lengthy. Otherwise the documentary consists of good quality production standards, both visual and audio.