Lorenzo's Oil
The movie Lorenzo's Oil is about a boy, his family and their struggles to stick together through a life threatening disease. A family's togetherness is challenged in the event of unexpected change, like in this movie. The Odone family tested many factors of their family structure when Lorenzo was diagnosed with ALD. Some of factors that were tested and some also changed, as a result of this disease, were their environments, boundaries, cohesion, rules, and rituals. The environments that Augusto, Michaela, and Lorenzo lived in, were ones in which change was common. In the beginning of the movie they moved from Africa where it was warm to a small town in the United States where there were many seasons. In their new environment the natural/physical part of it was the changes in temperature and the seasons. The air, plants, and animals around them were also part of their natural/physical environment. Part of their cultural/behavioral environment was the belief system they had attained throughout their lives. This included family Christmas dinners that they had and Michaela's attendance and belief in the church. There were many things in their constructed/technological environment. They had a house, clothing, hospita
The cohesion in this family was very high. They all had loyalty to each other and cared about each person in a sense of togetherness and individuality. As Lorenzo became sick this cohesion was tested, but because the cohesion was so high before he got sick, they were able to adapt well as a family unit. There were times when the road was rough, but they fought for each other. Augusto and Michaela both went on a quest together for a higher knowledge of the disease to help Lorenzo. This family's high cohesion and ability to adapt got them through each day together. In the end it helped Lorenzo to become stabilized and they begun to see glimpses of a new life. There are two types of boundaries present at all times; those are physical and emotional. In the beginning their physical boundaries were well defined. They had their own rooms and traditional spots at the dinner table. As Lorenzo became more and more sick, he was moved out into the living room and was unable to eat at the table. Michaela's personal space was another physical boundary that changed. At first she allowed people in her personal space and was able to express her intimacy and anger, but as Lorenzo became sick, she did not want anyone in her space. Emotionally the boundaries in the family
Some common words found in the essay are:
Michaela Lorenzo, Augusto Michaela, Rituals Odone, Family Christmas, Lorenzo's Oil, lorenzo sick, family system, odone family, augusto michaela, , strong family system, feet tall, family christmas, personal space, strong family, family unit, lorenzo human,
Approximate Word count = 857
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
