Review of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017) by Courtenay C — 22 Apr 2017

A thoughtful adaptation of the non-fiction account of the life and times of Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman whose cells were critical to the development of many medical advances since the 1950s. Co-produced by Oprah Winfrey who also stars as Lacks' daughter Deborah, the film features Rose Byrne as the science writer who wrote the best-selling 2010 non-fiction book about Lacks.

The film personalizes the often fraught relationship between Black Americans and the medical establishment. The film focuses on the relationship between the writer and Lacks' surviving children who have a range of emotions about the young white woman who has taken an interest in their mother and her life.

Winfrey's performance is the best of her career as a woman driven to all but to complete distraction by tragedy as well as emotional and physical trauma. A dream cast of other Black actors, including Leslie Uggams, play the relatives and friends Mrs.

Lacks, whose primary task is to introduce writer Rebecca Skloot. The film touches on but does not dive deeply into the ethical issues raised by Lacks' story. What the film does concisely and painfully through the performances of Winfrey and Reg E.

Casey, as Lacks' youngest two children, present the lacerating impacts and consequences of poverty, race and bigotry. This is a film that left this viewer impressed and angry.