Jennifer Helmick
English 102
Final Film
Analysis
15 April 2013
The
Cure
Child death occurs quite often and
most of the time with no explanation. The movie “The Cure,” directed by Peter Horton in 1995 shows a prime example of
child mortality. Joseph Mazello plays Dexter, and eleven year old that
conducted AIDS from a blood transfusion. His pal Erick, also known as Brad
Renfro, set out on a journey to find the cure for AIDS. The first impression of
the film was that it is very touching. It makes the audience realize how
serious child death is. The film also shows how difficult it is to fight child
mortality and how much of an emotional toll it takes on others.
The main characters all show strong
emotions about the concept of child death. Dexter’s mother knows her son is
dying but has a hard time accepting it. Her actions can relate to any parent
dealing with a child that has a deadly disease. Having a disease that has no
cure can take a serious toll on someone. The struggle to find a cure brings
these people together when they need it the most. The main thing that catches
the audience’s attention would be how someone that is so sick but still makes
the best out of life. When a child dies young they have little time to find
remorse.
The setting makes the concept of
child mortality more believable because of the small town atmosphere. A child
getting AIDS from a blood transfusion can be rare so a close knit town can seem
more realistic. The hospital scenes were very intimating and definitely made
the story line interesting. The hospital staff is generous and very caring just
like any other hospital. One scene shows the boys in the hospital pretending
like Dexter died and the nurse states, “we knew this was coming.” (The Cure) This part in the film gives
most people a shock because it is a true statement but a nurse should clearly
not be stating that her patient is going to die.
The film shows the struggle on
finding a cure for AIDS. This is a worldwide problem any children face. Even
though it is better known in developing countries it still can occur close to
home. The fact that Dexter got AIDS from a blood transfusion helps others get a
better understanding about freak accidents. Most
children reported with AIDS acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection prenatally from their mothers (“Aids Among Children”). A majority of deaths do happen
in un-ordinary manners. This film provides a clear point that accidents do
happen.
The film supports the idea of the
fight to find a cure for AIDS. The boy’s dedication to cure Dexter shows how
desperately this problem needs to be fixed but how much of a challenge it also
is. According to the UNICEF, “The number of children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS is
projected to reach 25 million by the end of the decade.” The story of Dexter
shows him and his families struggle. Imagine 25 million families having to go
through the struggle of their child having AIDS.
Having AIDS
as a child can be quite the challenge, but with a good family and trustful
friends the life they have can still be enjoyed. Child mortality is a stressful
situation and the film helps the audience realize that it is
an issue that should be fixed. At the current
rate of decline in child mortality, the goal of the Millennium Project will not
be achieved. However, the rate of decline has been increasing, and certain
vaccines will increase this rate even further (Fighting Child Mortality).
Dexter’s story sends out a touching message about child mortality rates and leaves
the audience pondering about the cure for AIDS.
Works Cited
"Aids Among
Children." Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
22 Nov. 1996. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
"Fighting
Child Mortality." Nature.com.
Nature Publishing Group, 2011. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
"Goal: Reduce
Child Mortality." UNICEF
-. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
The
Cure. Dir. Peter Horton. Perf. Joseph Mazzello, Brad Renfro,
Aeryk Egan. Studio Selections, 1995. DVD.
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