Filming My Father In Life And Death: A Documentary Directed by Liz Tucker

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Fifty-one year old Steven Isaac is diagnosed with motor neuron disease and given only two years to live. Directed by Liz Tucker of Verve Productions, UK, Filming My Father: In Life And Death is a painstakingly honest documentary of a family blindsided by the terminal diagnosis of husband and father. Largely filmed by Steven’s 22 year old son, Fraser, the film illustrates the story of extraordinary familial love, support and unity shattered by the onset of a degenerative terminal disease.

Filmed over the duration of four years, this lovingly crafted documentary captures the unfolding story of Steve’s progressive condition and the decline in his health as his muscles rapidly degenerate, causing him to lose nearly all independent function, to the point where his only mode of communication is through the remarkable technology of blinking into an interactive computer screen.

The documentary showcases with humbling candor, the effect that Steve’s condition and increasing necessity for constant care has had on his family, who are ultimately pushed to the brink by his surprising desire to survive at almost any cost.

The documentary showcases with humbling candor, the effect that Steve’s condition and increasing necessity for constant care has had on his family, who are ultimately pushed to the brink by his surprising desire to survive at almost any cost. Four-and-a-half years on, Steve has defied medical expectation.

Throughout the extended trauma of Steve Isaac’s illness, the cycling and recycling of footage, feeling and dialogue lends itself to the feeling of ‘we have been here before’.

Initially critical of a decided repetition inherent within both footage and dialogue, I began to appreciate the film’s repetitive nature in that it highlights the kinds of cyclic experiences often endured by those who bear the weight of circumstances such as these. Throughout the extended trauma of Steve Isaac’s illness, the cycling and recycling of footage, feeling and dialogue lends itself to the feeling of ‘we have been here before’. Feelings such as shock, grief, hope, fear, expectation, disappointment, frustration, humor, acceptance, disassociation, isolation and connectedness make appearances again and again.

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Where initially, the family, as a whole, collectively seem to experience this tragedy in unison, husband, wife, and children independently move through their personal experience at their own pace, contributing to an increased feeling of dissonance. The Isaac family is brought to their knees with a humility that inspires a deep empathy for those brave enough, and patient enough to sit through the film showcasing the soul-breaking effects it can have on loved ones charged with their care.

When I set out to review this film, I assumed, according to its title, that my observations would include the circumstances of Steven’s death. Yet what began as an expected two year long documentary has become an exhaustive four year long journey as Steven’s unrelenting determination to endure extraordinary medical procedures helps him to survive under even the most difficult of circumstances.

Within the plodding ordinary of everyday life, the film’s raw honesty and depiction of the heroes’ journey as depicted by its humanity alone, is worth every moment.

The forty-five minutes I spent wishing I were watching almost anything else served as an invitation to extend my awareness to the millions of people around the world who struggle every day within circumstances such as the Isaac family has had to endure. Within the plodding ordinary of everyday life, the film’s raw honesty and depiction of the heroes’ journey as depicted by its humanity alone, is worth every moment.