Introducing, Selma Blair (2021)

Introducing, Selma Blair (2021)

A candid, personal, and ultimately inspirational account of living with a debilitating disease

7.2

Movie

United States of America
English
Documentary
2021
FEMALE DIRECTOR, RACHEL FLEIT
Selma Blair
90 min

TLDR

Words to live by: "We have a long time to be dead. And I spent so long trying to [...] figure out how to be alive by being half-dead. And now I just want to help other people feel better."

What it's about

Actress Selma Blair works through multiple sclerosis, after being diagnosed with it in 2018.

The take

Even if it doesn't provide the most comprehensive information about treatment and care for multiple sclerosis (MS)—especially for those who can't afford a ridiculously expensive stem cell transplant—this isn't really the point of Introducing, Selma Blair. This is still mostly a biographical documentary about a (self-confessed) "not-so-famous" celebrity, who gets to be incredibly honest about some of the privilege she enjoys, and how that privilege still doesn't make MS any easier. Blair's determination, her sense of humor, and her articulate way of expressing herself keep the film from descending into total sadness, but it also never shies away from the uglier, more difficult parts of her journey.

What stands out

There's a striking lack of vanity on Blair's part as director Rachel Fleit follows her throughout this long, arduous, continuing process. And while some might argue that a celebrity presenting themselves struggling can still come off like vanity, it really does feel like Blair is doing this not for herself but for anyone else who might be going through the same thing. This is probably most evident when her disease starts to get significantly worse toward the latter parts of the film—and her normally tough, tongue-in-cheek personality all but deflates. And you suddenly find yourself hoping she'll get back to all her wisecracking self.

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