Something the Lord Made

The story of two men - an ambitious white surgeon and a gifted black carpenter turned lab technician - who together pioneered the field of heart surgery. Great movie. Really well done drama. There's a little bit of swearing and don't watch it if you don't like watching surgery because there is a little bit.

I truly enjoyed this film especially knowing it was based on a true story. I bought it because Alan Rickman was in is but I have to say the Mos Def did an amazing job.

I showed this film to my 9th grade careers research class. They loved it. I had them write an essay as to what they thought of the film. The most common theme I read was that they learned to never give up on their dreams. The film, coupled with their responses, helped me learn more about the students and myself that day. Excellent film, excellent acting, and an excellent subject.

This 2004 made for television film details the lives of Drs Vivien Thomas (Mos Def) and Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman), who are pioneers in the field of cardiac surgery.

Prior to the 1940's, it was theorized that touching the human heart would result in instant death. These two doctors' work in conjunction with Dr. Helen Taussig in as well as emergency surgeries begun in World War II gave rise to the discipline of cardiology.

Vivien Thomas began working for Dr. Alfred Blalock in 1929 at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, TN. At the time, Blalock was studying trauma. Blalock and Thomas together developed the procedure to transfuse blood to restore life to trauma patients.

That work took the pair of them to Johns Hopkins where the Dr. Blalock was challenged by Dr. Taussig to help 'blue babies.' The two pioneered both the instruments and techniques including sutures that 'grow' that enabled blue babies to live.

It's no surprise this film won an Emmy in 2004. "Something the Lord Made" is a fascinating historical depiction of a pioneering time in our history both scientifically and racially. Both Mos Def and Alan Rickman did an excellent job in their roles, literally losing their own persona in their acting.

For young people who take todays equalities for granted, this is a must see Movie. This true story reminds us all how far we have come as a Nation....and how hard previous generations fought for civil rights...issues that are too often not appreciated by young people.