The Best of Men 2012

     Dr. Ludwig Guttmann is a refugee from Nazi Germany.  Near the end of WWII, he takes a job at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire England.  He has studied new methods to treat wounded soldiers who have been left partially paralyzed due to spinal injuries.  He is infuriated when he finds the spinal patients heavily sedated with morphine and left to suffer terrible bedsores.  He disposes of old equipment and the sedatives, which causes conflict with Sister Edwards and the consultant Dr. Cowan.  Sister Edwards comes around to his methods when she realizes he is treating the patients like people and not objects in beds.  The patients are off morphine, plaster casts removed, patients are turned every two hours to treat and prevent bedsores and catheters are removed which caused infections.  The men are being asked about their lives now and their futures to engage them in conversations.  They are receiving physical fitness in musical and sport activities to strengthen their upper bodies.

     This film is based on a true story and Dr. Guttmann received a lot of opposition as a doctor and his methods.  After his new treatment methods were implemented, all spinal patients from Whitehall are sent to this ward.  Dr. Guttmann received British citizenship in 1966 and he was knighted for his role in turning around the lives of the patients.  He was also the founder of the Paralypic Games.  I really enjoyed this film and found it very informative and interesting.  4* (I really liked this movie)

90 min, BBC TV Movie, Bio directed by Tim Whitby with George MacKay, Bee Bee Sanders, Leigh Quinn, Eddie Marsan, Ben Own-Jones, Rob Brydon, David Proud, Niamh Cusack Richard McCabe, Nicolas Jones.

Note:  Imdb 8.1 out of 10, 91% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 5* with 12 reviews.

Special Note:  Rob Brydon has starred in three films with Steve Coogan.  The Trip, The Trip to Italy and I'm Alan Partridge.  He's been involved in film and voice work since 1990.