The
intimate, highly personal nonfiction film Dear Talula
documents a crisis that arose in director Lori Benson's
life, shortly after she gave birth. As a new mother
enjoying the vicissitudes of maternity, Benson suddenly
received a call from her physician with the diagnosis
of stage two breast cancer, that required a critical
operation in a little over a week. The film follows
Benson as she charts the complex and often confusing
emotional landscape that ensues, with all of the requisite
decisions, including spur-of-the-moment medical choices
and various alternatives in the care of (and concern
for) her newborn infant. Along the way, Benson's journey
yields a deeper perception of herself, her body, and
her roles as a mother and a woman, and brings her face
to face with a greater appreciation of life and an immediate
awareness of her own human transience. She ultimately
devises the idea of capturing the experience, cinematically,
as a record for her unborn daughter Talula, believing
that in future years, the girl might gain valuable insights
from the cinematic document. As loved ones gather around
Lori, she opens up to the camera, sharing her most personal
thoughts, observations, and conclusions about the struggle.
Her words resonate with poignancy and depth but never
sacrifice humor and grace.
~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
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