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Under Our Skin (2008)

Director: Andy Abrahams Wilson

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5 reviews

Movie review

From Short Review - NY

*** (Three stars)
If the only thing you know about Lyme disease is that some chick on the Real World had it, Andy Abrahams Wilson’s 103-minute doc will school you right (right being a relative term, depending on where you stand on the hotly contested argument over Lyme’s very existence). Wilson and his team spent four years researching and filming people who suffer from chronic Lyme, the doctors who attempt to treat them, the other doctors who want the first doctors’ licenses suspended, and a whole host of friends and family members who’ve seen firsthand how this disease ravages the lives of those who contract it. More disturbing and infuriating than the nay-saying doctors’ misdiagnoses and unapologetic neglect of patients who appear—at least on film—to be very sick is the semantic nit-picking of wallet-conscious insurance companies and fat-cat Big Pharma. Even if you hold fast that Lyme is a psychosomatic affliction, rest assured that the devilishness of our health-care system is contagious to all. Under Our Skin does a superb job capturing that harsh reality.—Ashlea Halpern, associate features editor

[This is a TONY staff review, written for the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. It is not considered an official review and should not be read as such. Please think of it as a casual impression from a movie-loving friend.] 

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Short Review - NY

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User reviews of this film

  • Jay said...
    Posted on Aug 28 2008 04:32 Outrage. I have ppl close to me going thru this. Epidemic. Politics. Insurance. Big Pharm. Outrage. This is absolutely one of the worst things medicine has done. Im beside myself with anger. This is real people, ive seen it.
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  • Heather said...
    Posted on Apr 30 2008 08:11 I commend Wilson for his work on this film. While I haven't seen the completed work, I saw a 30 minute cut a year ago. I know from my own Lyme experience these people were not sick just -on film- as the reviewer put it. This is why the film was created. To show just how sick we are, and to stop attitudes such as this. But it seems even seeing with your own eyes someone else's struggle isn't enough. Please remember Ms. Halpern, this movie is a documentary. None of these people were actors. Unlike Michael J. Fox, we can't just take a pill and make our symptoms disappear. Open minds, open hearts.
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  • The "Un-Doctor" said...
    Posted on Apr 29 2008 09:41 This is a very well done expose of the politics behind the Lyme disease epidemic, and I hope that the Festival brings Mr. Wilson many offers for distribution! This film needs to be seen and the greed and self-interest of the IDSA exposed!
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  • Doc diva said...
    Posted on Apr 26 2008 23:39 Just came from the premiere - this was an excellent film. The world of insurance-related greed and abuse we saw in Sicko is still thriving apparently. And yes, reminded me of the early AIDS struggles. Scary what goes on that we don't know about. Definitely worth seeing.
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  • NY PhD said...
    Posted on Apr 26 2008 23:02 This is an absolutely brilliant film. An emotional rollercoaster that ends on a hopeful note, this film explores the maddening controversy surrounding a dangerous epidemic that is being ignored in a way very reminiscent of the early AIDS crisis. An excellent film.
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Cast & crew

Director: Andy Abrahams Wilson


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