127. Long Live My Happy Head; movie review

 

LONG LIVE MY HAPPY HEAD

Cert 15

90 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language

Seven years ago, I attended the funeral of a radio presenter from Derby.

Colin Bloomfield was just 33 and had been fighting cancer since a melanoma was diagnosed when he was 21.

His death affected people in the area deeply but all who knew Colin were astonished by his stoicism and how he maintained his professionalism on air until he could no longer broadcast.

I was reminded of him when I watched Long Live My Happy Head - a very personal documentary about Gordon Shaw.

He was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 32 and, as he approaches his 40th birthday, he faces the prospect that his condition is terminal.

However, Gordon has fantastic spirit and humour and his cancer has inspired him to write comic books about his journey.

These have been successful in helping victims and their relatives face up to their own situations.

Meanwhile, Austen McCowan and Will Hewitt's film is also a long-distance love story because Gordon's boyfriend Shawn lives in Virginia.

Shawn spends as much time in Edinburgh as he can as Gordon goes through various MRI scans and treatments.

But his trips became impossible for several months after March 2020 when Covid strikes and, as a vulnerable person, Gordon is forced to isolate.

Long Live My Happy Head includes many difficult moments for the pair but each time, Gordon somehow bounces back with smiles and laughter.

He is a lesson to us all and his positive attitude means this is an unexpectedly uplifting movie.

Reasons to watch: It will lift up those who are touched by cancer

Reasons to avoid: Upsetting scenes

Laughs: Chuckles rather than laughs

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Generally for people with a cancerous (malignant) brain tumour in England: 40 out of 100 people (40%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more. more than 10 out of 100 people (more than 10%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more, according to Cancer Research UK

The final word. Austen McCowan: "We always hoped that, despite the heavy subject matter, this film would be a positive story about optimism and creativity in the face of adversity - and that is what we have made. There are certainly some heart-wrenching moments, but what emerges from them is a testament to the power of art, love and humour to soothe our deepest fears of mortality and losing the people we care about most." York Press

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