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In 2018, actress Selma Blair announced via Instagram that she had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This is an autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system, thus disrupting communication between the brain and the body. Since then, Blair has been open about her illness through social media, having taken part in several interviews. However, this documentary is the first public deep dive into her day-to-day life living with MS.
The documentary is invasive in the most respectable way a documentary of this nature can be. Blair takes us on her own personal journey through her daily routines. She shows us her home, her pets, her family, and her psyche as she prepares for a stem cell transplant, which can potentially be life-threatening. The film even captures moments that quickly turn into powerful memories, one of the most personal being the cutting and shaving of Blair’s hair, which is emotional, and thanks to her son’s assistance, a surprisingly joyous moment to watch.
Thoughts
The film does a fantastic job of explaining what MS is, how it affects Blair, and how the stem-cell transplant works and treats the illness. Thanks to these detailed explanations, we are never in the dark about what’s happening. It feels like we are with Blair, watching her journey play-out in real-time.
That journey in question – emotional.
Given what’s it’s about, you probably don’t need any telling that Introducing, Selma Blair is an emotional rollercoaster. Even if you go in fully-prepared for how sad it may be, you will still be entering unprepared. Just seeing Blair’s perseverance is enough to make anyone cry. After all, she is fighting an on-going battle with her own body. She is brave enough to allow a camera crew to step into her personal safe spaces so she can show the world and help inspire.
Introducing, Selma Blair is a fantastic documentary that is enough for anyone to feel inspired by how amazing one person’s human spirit can be, even during the darkest times in their lives. The documentary will air on Discovery+ later this year.
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