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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017) is a thought-provoking film that centers around the true story of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cells played a crucial role in revolutionizing medical research. Set in the 1950s, Henrietta's cells were taken without her consent during a routine medical examination, and scientists discovered that her cells could multiply indefinitely, making them immortal. These cells, known as HeLa cells, became invaluable in developing treatments for diseases like polio, cancer, and AIDS.
The film explores the ethical implications of Henrietta's story, particularly the lack of informed consent and the question of who ultimately owns our biological materials. It also delves into the personal impact on Henrietta's family, particularly her daughter Deborah, who knows very little about her mother's immortal cells and their contributions to science.
With powerful performances by Oprah Winfrey as Deborah Lacks and Rose Byrne as Rebecca Skloot, the author of the book on which the movie is based, the film delves into the complex relationship between the Lacks family and the medical community. It sheds light on the lack of recognition and compensation that the Lacks family received for their mother's cells, and ultimately humanizes the story behind this medical breakthrough.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is an emotionally gripping film that not only showcases the scientific achievements made possible by Henrietta's cells but also raises important questions about ethics, race, and the importance of informed consent in medical research.
The film explores the ethical implications of Henrietta's story, particularly the lack of informed consent and the question of who ultimately owns our biological materials. It also delves into the personal impact on Henrietta's family, particularly her daughter Deborah, who knows very little about her mother's immortal cells and their contributions to science.
With powerful performances by Oprah Winfrey as Deborah Lacks and Rose Byrne as Rebecca Skloot, the author of the book on which the movie is based, the film delves into the complex relationship between the Lacks family and the medical community. It sheds light on the lack of recognition and compensation that the Lacks family received for their mother's cells, and ultimately humanizes the story behind this medical breakthrough.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is an emotionally gripping film that not only showcases the scientific achievements made possible by Henrietta's cells but also raises important questions about ethics, race, and the importance of informed consent in medical research.