Jackson Booth-Millard
I saw the advert for this one off drama/TV movie, I was initially attracted to watching it because of the fantastic leading actress, but then of course knowing it was real life being recreated made it even more interesting. Basically twenty eight year old Lisa Lynch (Sheridan Smith) works as a magazine editor and has been married to husband Pete (Paul Nicholls) for eighteen months, they are planning a trip to the States, but then she finds a lump on her breast. Lisa visits a doctor, who advises she see a specialist, her friends do not think it will be anything serious, but she is devastated to be told that she has breast cancer, with a large tumour growing, but they are prepared to operate if Lisa is willing to lose the breast and undergo chemotherapy. To help herself cope Lisa starts an online journal, referring to her illness as "The Bullsh*t", calling it "Alright Tit, her friends having read it her friends encourage her to turn it into a public blog, to inspire and help others in the same predicament, and she goes ahead writing about the cancer wittily and with no self-pity. The mastectomy operation goes ahead and is successful, so Lisa starts chemotherapy and chemotherapy, meaning the loss of her hair, and she her removed breast replaced and a new nipple tattooed, this goes on for a while until the doctors believe the cancer has subsided, they allow her to take a break from therapy to go on holiday, and she publishes her experiences in her book, "The C Word". However in 2011 secondary cancer returns, it has spread to the bones and brain and is terminal and incurable, Lisa is given a certain amount of time predicted to live, she spent most of the rest of the time she had left in Trinity Hospice, London, supported by her husband. Lisa Lynch passed away on 11 March 2013, aged 33, her blog and social media accounts continue to be updated by members of her family. Also starring Stephanie Vogt as Sara, Tom Hutch as Jack, Marcus Griffiths as Pete's Colleague, Rebekah Staton as Gabby, Susannah Fielding as Abigail, Jamie Baughan as Sam, Silas Carson as Consultant, Michael Maloney as Ian McFarlane, Haydn Gwynne as Jane McFarlane, Nate Fallows as Jamie McFarlane, Chrissie Cotterill as Nurse, Peter Landi as Anaesthetist and Orla Fitzgerald as Mary - Chemo Nurse. Smith, who was friends with the real life Lisa Lynch gives a fantastic as the lively young woman given life changing bad news, but rather than wallow or go downhill she inspired, and gave hope and comfort to many other cancer patients, Stephen Fry praised her blog as being "funny and brilliant", it is a well thought out, well scripted and well executed look into how such a terrible illness can affect the barer and all around them, but how to cope with it, a must see drama. Very good!
Catherine_O
How can you summarise Lisa Lynch and her brutally honest yet outrageously funny cancer blog in a 90-minute film? Well, you can't. Her one-liners alone could fill a TV series or five. So it's just as well the makers of The C Word didn't try; instead, they showed us the story behind the ballsy humour — the heartbreak and frustration coupled with love that can't be destroyed by "The Bullsh*t".The C Word takes us on a journey of stark contrasts. On the one hand, we have a young, beautiful woman in her prime, enjoying newly married life, parties, music and friends; on the other, we watch as The Bullsh*t wreaks havoc with her life, robbing her of friends she has just made and stopping her from doing the things we take for granted, like taking a bath unaided and nipping out to the shops. The film oscillates between these two extremes, reminding us just how cruel cancer is.Sheridan Smith delivers yet again, allowing you to believe for those 90 minutes that she is Lisa Lynch. However, she is not alone — this is a top-class cast, from Paul Nicholls who delivers a brilliantly understated yet powerful performance as Lisa's husband Pete, to Kris Hallenga, appearing as herself in the only fictional but oh-so-right part of the story.Do watch this film. Then read the book and the blog. As I've already mentioned, this is a heavily distilled version of events, and you haven't lived until you've read the one about the ginger-pube eyelashes. There are still plenty of gags though. And Louboutins. Which I now know are not pronounced 'La-boot-ins'. One more thing to thank Lisa for.
Prismark10
The C Word is a one off television film based on the book and blog writings of Lisa Lynch who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and died in 2013 at the age of just 33.Lynch worked closely with the adaptation of this BBC film until she died and suggested that Sheridan Smith portray her.Sheridan gives a moving portrayal of a newlywed fighting the disease with honesty, bravery and some humour. Her blog gave aid and comfort to many others.I think some of the worse aspects of the side effects of chemotherapy were sanitised for the screen. The reality is a lot worse and I think the financial pressures they would had faced although touched on probably was more of a worry to them in reality.I would not say the film is affirming, you could kind of guess from some scenes regarding her recovery that this was going to have a grim ending but its the journey that counts. I think its a certainty that Sheridan Smith will be up for more awards.
