Wow! Such a good movie.

Good start, but then it gets ruined

From my favorite movies..

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

In 1991, Michelle Akers was named the best female soccer player in the world. Shortly, she was struck down with a mysterious illness. Although she continued in the sport for the next nine years, she was never the same again. And she is one of the lucky ones. The majority of the sufferers of ME or whatever else you want to call it, are women, but not the vast majority. If there is one thing all sufferers have in common, it is that they have nothing in common, including mental aberration. They ranged from extremely fit and stunningly attractive like Akers to the kind of person you would pass in the street without giving a second look. This full length documentary explores the anomaly of ME, talking to many other sufferers and the doctors who treated them. About the only thing that could be said for it then and can be said for it now is that its victims are not crazy, or any declension thereof. There is in fact evidence that it has appeared at various times throughout history. The American authorities did not take it seriously at the outbreak documented here; the mounting suicides prove how wrong they were.

I watched this hoping the film would inform me about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. By "inform" I mean provide some of the details of the biological background of the syndrome, introduce me to some of the people who suffer from it and give some idea of how this syndrome will be treated in the future.I felt like what I got was 90% loosey-goosey soft science. I'm not denying that everyone in this documentary is suffering, but I still don't know from what. One quote from the movie I found damning was as voice-over stating that many children who suffer from this syndrome have been home-bound for 6 to 7 years. The next scene features a high-school-aged young man who had been home-bound for 6 months. Being ill for six months is very sad. But if this illness causes any child to be ill for 6 to 7 years, his/her story was not told in this film.After watching this documentary, I am more inclined to think that what is currently labeled "CFS" could be a combination of any of the following: viruses, unknown physical illnesses or mental illness. I'm deeply sorry for all of those who suffer from this syndrome; but I don't think this documentary clarifies what is, for many, a murky topic.

Anyone interested in the veracity of CFIDS (formerly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) needs to see this film. Although much research has been done since the film was made - not much ground has been covered and certainly no cure has been found. Those of us who suffer from this disease need more people to view this film with an open mind, compassion and empathy. It is well researched and covers all views of the topic - from disbelievers to sufferers. A must-see documentary for anyone interested in illness and the ways in which it impacts lives. If viewing this piques your interest also check out 'Osler's Web' by Hillary Johnson - the only comprehensively researched book to date on the horrifying consequences of the medical communities failure to act in a swift & compassionate manner - which caused untold suffering & continues to promote skepticism and prejudice in the eyes of the general public. We haven't come far enough - but this film does much to educate the layman as to the depth of the suffering cfids victims face daily. Thank you Kim Snyder for helping to tell our story!

Kim has done her homework and certainly gets an A+ for that effort alone. This film tells the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome story as well as it could be told. It keeps you interested and the numerous subjects are not only well-interviewed but edited with creativity and fluidity. Anyone who knows one person who is suffering from a long-term illness, not matter what it is, must see this film.