Wit

This entry concerns another book/film/literature connection. The film is Wit directed by Mike Nichols and produced by HBO in 2001 starring Emma Thompson, Christopher Lloyd, and Eileen Atkins (Video DVD PN1997 .W5667 2001.) It won an Emmy award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie among others and is based on the Pulitzer prize winning play by Margaret Edson (UL General PS3555.D4845 W58 1999b). I first learned about the play from my daughter whose high school drama department was performing it.  I did not think much of it at the time– it sounded depressing. The plot concerns an English literature university professor with terminal ovarian cancer who suffers through draconian experimental treatment, providing the audience with commentary along the way.  At the urging of my daughter, however, I decided to check the GSU Library to see if we had the movie.  We do, so I watched it. It is a wonderful movie– sad, inspiring, hopeful but definitely not depressing. It just may inspire students and faculty to go and look up those sonnets by John Donne in the GSU University Library. Want to know more? Check the GIL online catalog for sonnets by John Donne and other films starring Emma Thompson and Eileen Atkins.  Of course, you can Google ‘John Donne Holy Sonnets’ and find the full text online from many sources.  One link is from the Poet’s Corner. Drop me a line if you are interested in more film/book connections…..