Watch Sick

Sick is a documentary film from 1997 that explores the life and art of Bob Flanagan, a writer, performer, and BDSM enthusiast who suffered from cystic fibrosis. The film was directed by Kirby Dick and produced by Eva Orner. The movie is a raw and intimate portrait of Flanagan's life and work, featuring interviews with him, his girlfriend Sheree Rose, and his collaborator and fellow artist Kathe Burkhart. Through these interviews, we are given a glimpse into Flanagan's world, his struggles with his disease, and his edgy and provocative art.

The film delves deep into Flanagan's personal life, documenting his painful, daily routine of cystic fibrosis treatments and his relationship with Rose. We see their BDSM play, which is a central part of their relationship, and how it offers him a way to cope with his illness and mortality.

However, the movie doesn't just focus on Flanagan's personal life, but also his art. Through interviews with his collaborators and footage of his performances, we see how his work evolved over time and how it reflects his life experiences. His performances often involved pain endurance, bodily fluids, and subversion of societal norms. Some of his most famous pieces include "The Pain Journal," where he wrote daily entries about the physical pain caused by his illness, and "Visiting Hours," where he performed as a patient in a hospital bed, surrounded by medical equipment and gruesome props.

Throughout the movie, we see how Flanagan's art and his illness were deeply interconnected. His performances were a way to confront and subvert his own mortality, to transform his pain into something beautiful and meaningful. We also see how his work challenged societal norms around illness, disability, and BDSM, and how it paved the way for future artists in these fields.

One of the most striking things about Sick is its unflinching honesty. The film doesn't shy away from the more uncomfortable aspects of Flanagan's art and personal life, and it doesn't sugarcoat the realities of living with cystic fibrosis. Instead, it offers a candid and compassionate look at a complex and deeply human individual.

Overall, Sick is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that offers a unique perspective on illness, art, and human resilience. Flanagan's story is a testament to the transformative power of art and the ways in which individuals can use their own experiences to challenge societal norms and create something meaningful.