Éanna Mac Cana's 'Burkitt' interweaves personal footage of his experience with Burkitt's lymphoma with the archive of Dr. Denis Burkitt, who discovered the disease.
A Belfast filmmaker named Éanna Mac Cana, who survived a rare form of cancer, has created a documentary titled 'Burkitt' that explores the life of Dr. Denis Burkitt , the surgeon who discovered Burkitt's lymphoma. The film interweaves Éanna's personal recordings from his time as a patient undergoing treatment for Burkitt's lymphoma with the surgeon's own archive of photographs and films from sub-Saharan Africa.
Éanna's intention with the documentary is to shed light on the multifaceted and enduring effects of trauma, colonialism, and the ethical complexities of medical practice through an artistic lens. He aims to emphasize the crucial role of creativity in navigating these challenging issues.Éanna shared his experience of being diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma at the young age of 19 while studying filmmaking at Manchester Metropolitan University in England. He initially dismissed the swollen tonsil at the back of his throat, but it persisted and eventually began to bleed. After a series of hospital visits and tests, the diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma was confirmed. With a one in half a million chance of developing this disease, Éanna began treatment at Belfast City Hospital, where he remained for four months as an inpatient. During this time, he began filming his experience, driven by both boredom and a fascination with capturing his reality.Four years after his discharge from the hospital, Éanna stumbled upon a book that featured a chapter on Dr. Denis Burkitt. Intrigued by the story of how this cancer was discovered, he embarked on a journey to learn more about Burkitt. He discovered a parallel in his own life, as Burkitt, like Éanna, had an interest in filmmaking. By juxtaposing his video archive of his own experience with Burkitt's archival materials, Éanna aimed to create a unique and compelling narrative. The process of making the film was emotionally challenging for Éanna. Confronting his past illness triggered anxieties and difficult emotions, but ultimately, he found that the act of filmmaking lessened his fear of cancer. The film highlights the importance of creativity as a tool for coping with adversity, both in Éanna's personal journey and in Burkitt's groundbreaking medical research. 'Burkitt' is set to screen across Northern Ireland next month, offering audiences a chance to engage with this powerful and insightful story
Burkitt's Lymphoma Documentary Filmmaker Surgeon Denis Burkitt Belfast Cancer Medical Research Creativity Trauma
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