Hubbard: Wit (Film)

Seeing the film "Wit" was more heart warming than reading the play. Everything seemed more meaningful to be able to see the emotions of the characters, especially Vivian's. She is a very strong woman dealing with one of life's most hardest things to battle, cancer. Vivian has Matastatic Stage IV ovarian cancer and is terminally ill with not much time to live. It's bothering to watch people suffer and wonder why them. All the science and technology enhancements in the world and nothing is going to save her. Vivian was only fifty years old and didn't even get a chance to live a full life. However, she was happy with the life she had lived by herself for years. Strangely, she had to relatives to be with her during her last moments of life. She knew that she was going to die and was willing to accept it.

One of the things that was most saddening to watch, was how her doctors were handling her as if she was a test subject in a lab. Vivian agreed to go through with the series of chemography treatments, but her doctor didn't seem too concern with her failing help. He seemed to be more concerned with his treatments he were offering her rather than how she would benefit from them. Her nurse was one of the few people in the hospital to truly care about her and her health. I read in the play how she felt less of a human while undergoing the treatments but to watch the film, I was able to see how she was affected by it.

The treatment she was given was making her really ill and causing her to suffer more than she already was. She would have been better off just dying peacefully from the cancer alone. The treatment caused her to have abdominal pain, fever, chills, and vomiting. Usually when taking medicine, you benefit from it and it is suppose to help you feel better and not worse. When she was nearing death, she was realizing that she could have been more generous to people. It was at her death bed that she realized the true importance of compassion. Compassion is the essence of the human spirit, a very important virtue.

Bonnin - Wit (Film)

After reading Edson’s play “Wit” and viewing the film adaptation I must say that I enjoyed the film more. A play is written to be acted out, and so the content lacks an entire dimension that will become present once the characters are brought to life by actors. For example when one reads the play one understands that Vivian is trying to be witty and humorous in her dialogue with the doctors and the audience, but when one watches the film one actually laughs as a consequence of her remarks. Vivian looks straight at the camera, or at you, and tells you “I’ve been asked, ‘How are you feeling today?’ while I’ve been throwing up into a plastic water vase. I’ve been asked as I was emerging from a four-hour operation with a tube in every orifice, ‘How are you feeling today?’” Although these are the same exact lines from the play, one understands more clearly how miserable she feels by actually seeing her in the hospital setting. The irony of it is made much more apparent in the film, seeing as the viewers, just like the caregivers, can see that she is bald, pale, gaunt and miserable when they ask if she is feeling well. There is absolutely no point to the question. Everyone knows she is not okay, but she replies “I’m fine,” as if stating in a way that a stupid question deserves a stupid answer. When one sees her later on in the film throwing up in a plastic vase one can’t help but smile at the thought of she being asked the question at a time like that. So, in this sense the film enhances one’s enjoyment of the play because one is able to actually see the character and what she is referring to.

Similarly, there is a scene in both the play and the film in which her former student, now her doctor, is giving her a pelvic examination. In the play one gets an idea of how uncomfortable and humiliating it must have felt for her. However, when one views it in the film Vivian’s experience seems much more mortifying. One views her physically uncomfortable position that she is set in, how rough and detached he is while examining her and how awkward he makes the entire situation, and one can’t help but feel sympathetic towards Vivian. In this case I wouldn’t say the film enhanced my enjoyment of the film, but it did enhance my appreciation of it. Words on their own are powerful, but images make the story and its sentiment much more real to its audience.

Vitanza - Wit (Film)

After watching the film Wit, I am tempted to say I find myself at a crossroad, as to whether I like the film more or the play. That is, once I read the play, I could picture the actors saying their lines to my liking. As for the film, I cannot do much but criticize how the actors perform their part, their gestures, if they are overreacting, etc. The film does provide the image the director believes the playwright originally thought his or her work would translate visually, but as I mentioned before I prefer reading and making out my interpretation of a play, with the help of the play’s directions of course.

I noticed, at the beginning of the film, when Kelekian was diagnosing Vivian, how she seemed unfocused yet there was no monologue in the back of her head brought up in the film. I believe this small scene could’ve been done as in the play, but the director probably thought it was not important. Perhaps he thought it would’ve saturated Vivian’s character, as for her being an English professor was beyond clear.

The film did assist Dr. Jason Posner’s character. It showed a much more insecure human being, that knew very well what he was doing, as well as how thoroughly focused he was on the research for ovarian cancer. He even mentions how “awesome” cancer is, and such excitement over the research causes him to become detached from his patient, in a way that his treatment towards her is as that of a scientist to a test subject. Vivian did start thinking at one point she should’ve taken it easier on her students, and I believe so because she mentions how Jason should’ve been given an A as to whether an –A, and she does bring up, while a tear rolls down her cheek, that time she turns down a student’s proposal for the due date of a paper.

As for John Donne’s influence in the play and film, his sonnets talk about his perception of life and death, and in the play/film, Vivian decided to take up on studying and analyzing Donne’s sonnets. Vivian ends up analyzing her life and death situation in accordance to Donne; up to the extent she does not want anything to do with Donne, towards the end of the film, this I supported by the scene in which professor Ashford offers to recite something to Vivian, when she mentions Donne, Vivian moans a barely audible no.

Campbell- Wit (Film)

Upon reading the play Wit then watching the film, I was pleasantly surprised. The film mirrored the written play remarkably well. While reading the play the reader can visualize what the author is trying to portray and watching the film production after reading it further enriched the experience of the work. When reading the play, one tries to visualize what the characters would look like. I think the film succeeded in capturing the essence of Vivian, Dr. Posnor and Susie.  Scenes that particularly stood out to me include the one in which Vivian is describing the moment in which she first knew that words would be her life’s work. As the doctors spout out medical terms, both in the written work and the film, Vivian explains to the audience what the terms mean. Vivian continues to explain that understanding and respecting words is her way of remaining in control.  In the scene, Vivian regresses back to her childhood at a moment when she is reading Floppsy Bunny while in here home with her father.  Vivian comes to the word “Soporific” and is unclear of how to say the word and the meaning.  Reading this scene, the reader might try to imagine how the interaction between Vivian and her father would take place. In the written play, this scene seemed a bit dry and cold; however, when seeing it acted out, it was much better. Additionally, the manner in which the director used the method of merging the flashback with the present day Vivian as well as taking the viewer from the living room of Vivian’s childhood back to the hospital room with her father sitting in a chair across from the bed.  This scene gave a richer experience to the viewer and portrayed a much warmer feel. Another scene which was especially interesting, was that when Vivian was indirectly telling the audience, that she somewhat regrets her uncompromising and rather strict academic position. Here again in the scene as it is written in the book does a good job a portraying the point; however, the added benefit of seeing the scene acted out, lenders to a greater understanding of Vivian’s regret. During the scene, first Vivian scolds a student for not be prepared for class and says that she will not accept anything less. What I found interesting about this was that Dr. Posner was a student in Vivian’s class at the time of this scene.  The ironically, it seems that Dr. Posnor, not only learned metaphysical poetry in Vivian’s class, but how to me an uncompromising and strict academic researcher to the neglect of the human experience.

Corkern- Wit (film)

“The book was better than the movie”, is a common line told when a person has read a book then watches the movie. In the case of the play, Wit, I believe it to be partially true. In some ways, I enjoyed the movie more. It was interesting to see the characters come to life off of a stage setting. I have enjoyed Emma Thompson in other films, and she did not disappoint as Dr. Vivian Bearing in Wit. Even Christopher Lloyd, most widely known for his role as “Doc” in the Back to the Future trilogy, was impressive in his role as Dr. Kelikan. The film was much more intense to me than the play. Seeing the people on screen, not being able to gloss over the more gruesome aspects in my mind, such as the scenes where she vomits, make the film that much more real to me. Seeing and hearing Dr. Bearing only enhanced her wittiness, and made her a much more likeable character. On the same hand, seeing the film certainly elicited a more emotionally charged response from me. My blood was boiling at the end when Jason didn’t even realize she was dying, and then proceeded to call a code, knowing full well she was DNR. I found myself much angrier than I was while reading the play. To his credit, they do show Jason as a bit insecure and unsure of himself, which did give him a more redeeming quality that was missing from the play.

While I certainly appreciated the film as well as the play, surprisingly, I did enjoy the stage aspect that the film was missing. I cannot say for certain if it is because I read the play first or not, but I do not think that is the case. I thoroughly enjoyed the stage type atmosphere, and the way Vivian would address the audience. I am rather enticed to see the actual stage production, and will likely do so before the end of summer.

Baker - Wit (film)

In the play Wit, the main character, Dr. Vivian Bearing, is portrayed as a shrill, quick-witted scholar who often uses her intelligence to undermine and challenge her doctors and their discourteous staff. Throughout the play, she frequently offers feisty asides to the audience – an aspect of the play (her personality) that truly makes Bearing the loveable character that she is. It is in her asides that she connects with the audience as she offers her honest emotions and thoughts. She charges into her battle with cancer exhibiting a congenial and witty attitude which makes the reader respect her strength and her will as an individual.

While Bearing’s asides are not as sassy or quick-witted in the movie as they are in the play, the audience can see the emotional side to her character much more clearly in the movie – as should be expected – because most live acting presents a better feel and understanding of the characters’ emotions to the audience. For example, in the scene where Bearing reflects on the student that told her that his grandmother died and he would need an extension on his paper deadline, and she responded with, “the paper is due when it is due” – she is nearly in tears in the movie because of the guilt she feels for her harsh actions, but the reader of the play does not understand that emotion. Vivian Bearing from the movie presents herself as a prissy, dull woman (compared to the clever, feisty woman from the play). As a result, the audience connects with her on a more emotional level in the movie, but she is much funnier and wittier in the play.

Furthermore, in the play, Bearing’s relationships with Susie and her teacher are very mother/daughter. They both comfort Bearing, and they take the role of “family.” In the movie, Susie’s relationship with Bearing is not as strong as it is in the play – perhaps it is due to poor acting on Susie’s part, but the mother/daughter, caretaker relationship is very watered down in the movie. On the contrary, Bearing’s relationship with her teacher skyrockets on an emotional level in the movie. When her teacher first walks in to see her at the hospital, the two immediately become teary-eyed, and the connection is much more emotionally intense in the movie than it is in the play. Bearing is literally high-pitched-whining like a baby (more in a literal, helpless sense as compared to a bratty, spoiled sense) while her teacher is in tears comforting her like she would comfort her own daughter. The scene is very touching, and it really rounds out the emotional connection the audience has for Bearing in the movie compared to the love of her personality that the reader has in the play.

Celestine-Wit the film

Seeing the film of the play Wit enhances my enjoyment of the play because I was confused while reading and did not understand the just of what the author was trying to say. When watching the film, scenes and characters appeared much differently than I imagined them to be. The film allowed me to appreciate the play for its substance and meaning. Being able to see Vivian Bearing going through the physical pain of her cancer and the emotional change she was starting to feel was heightened and given life. It made me develop a connection with her character unlike the detachment and confusion I felt while reading.

In the film of the play the scene that was most surprising to me or shall I say not the way I interpreted it was the scene when Vivian first learned the word “ soporific”. While reading the play I thought that Mr. Bearing did not want to have the conversation with his daughter, which is why he told her to read. This conclusion came from his response to what makes him soporific. Mr. Bearing response was “Boring conversation after dinner”. As a reader I envisioned Mr. Bearing to be a ruthless father who wanted his daughter to stop bothering him. Once I saw the scene in the film a whole new understanding surfaced. The film presented Mr. Bearing as a caring father who wanted to educate his daughter. He did not make Vivian sound out the word and use it in a sentence to be mean his goal was to teach his daughter not to give up and encourage her to learn new words though they may seem challenging. The love and admiration they had for each other was evident in this scene.

Vivian Bearing constantly had play on words through out the entire play but in the film when she discussed the word “fine” and how people are asking her that after multiple test the impact is noticed. Vivian constantly says she is fine because she wants to avoid making conversation and developing relationships with others. She does not want to be close with Dr. Posner because he was her student and she never was the teacher who was understanding and cared about how she interacted with her students. I think that when she says “ I should have given him an A,” Vivian thinks Dr. Posner would not have viewed her as just research. The way Vivian is being treated is karma for her actions towards her students. In the film the impact Vivian feels from how Susie treats her is noticed because Vivian emotionally changes and realizes that she needed to be more humble and motherly towards her students. Susie was the woman that Vivian needed to be at certain times, which is why she developed a friendship with her. Lastly, after watching the final scene when Dr. Posner calls a Code Blue and Vivian is actually DNR was disappointing because he actually had no remorse on his face for his actions. Dr. Posner was more frustrated that his research could not be complete. It was saddening to see a Doctor care more about research than his patient.