The Piano Man's Daughter
On September 22nd and 23rd CBC will be airing Sullivan Entertainment's The Piano Man's Daughter. The film, based on the Timothy Findley novel by the same name, depicts Canada in the 1930s and the life of Lily Kilworth (Stockard Channing), a woman who has seizures, and because of the times is viewed as dangerous and unstable.
The film provides an interesting depiction of epilepsy. As a period piece, set in Toronto at the beginning of the century, it shows the misunderstandings with which the disorder is often viewed. Lily is so misunderstood in fact, that as a young girl she is locked in the attic by her well-to-do stepfather when there are visitors in their house so that her seizures will not embarrass him. Lily is often viewed by those around her as insane, and her son, Charlie (Christian Campbell) is so concerned that he may pass on this seemingly hereditary affliction that he avoids relationships until he falls in love with a blues singer.
The film creates an ideal place to start a discussion with those around you, a way to clarify and do away with the many misconceptions that surround the disorder.
Watch the film and then let us know what you think by emailing us at trideout@epilepsyontario.org.
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