Elizabeth Banks captivates in a stressful medical drama that preserves her humanity

Medical dramas can often be sensational and dramatic in order to provoke conflict; A mistake It’s quite the opposite. Skillfully written and directed by Christine Jeffs, who adapted Carl Shuker’s novel of the same name, the drama eschews fictional medical tropes for something that’s all too real and emotional. A mistake is thorough in examining what happens when a medical error occurs and the consequences that arise due to a moment gone wrong. In doing so, Jeffs explores ethics, moral and emotional responsibility with a compassionate and nuanced eye.

In an emergency surgery, expert surgeon Liz Taylor (Elizabeth Banks) instructs her registrar, Richard (Richard Crouchley), to cut a patient with sepsis. Flustered, he cuts too deep, creating another medical emergency that the staff must fix before getting to the heart of the problem. It’s a split-second moment, but it changes the lives of Liz and Richard, who must deal with the consequences, questions from the patient’s parents, and medical bureaucracy. All this while the hospital prepares to publicly report on the surgeons’ performance.

A mistake makes us think about the consequences and what we owe to each other

A mistake spends most of its running time contemplating the responsibility we owe to each other as humans. While the hospital itself, and Liz, protecting Richard as her supervisor, want to protect themselves from liability, Jeffs’ script delves into the narrative from a personal angle. The film never falters from Liz’s perspective, and she goes on an unstable emotional journey that leads her to question what she, as a surgeon, owes to her patient, but also the responsibility she has toward her own. her personal Her previously unwavering confidence is tested, and the film powerfully captures that vulnerability.

More than anything, however, A mistake Is understanding. Liz does not appear to be a callous villain, and the patient’s parents are not antagonistic in their relentless pursuit of the truth. As Liz navigates the medical system and the unpleasant chief of surgery (Simon McBurney), she discovers that her desire to protect herself (herself, Richard, her decision) is not as simple as the black and white answers she is given. they demand. hers. Even a simple truth isn’t easy, and the film understands that facing it is truly taking responsibility, regardless of what’s at stake.

A mistake makes it clear that, even when faced with medical bureaucracy, losing one’s humanity should never be an option. If humanity is lost, there is no hope for anything. Who do we answer to if not ourselves? Through a harrowing series of events, Jeffs proves himself to be a capable filmmaker who can generate intensity and tension as much as he can create a buildup with compelling consequences. The movie left me stunned at the end, contemplating all the questions it raised. The answers may not be easy, but being understanding and understanding should not be taken for granted.

It would have been easy for A mistake be cold and calculating; Liz behaves like this at first, if only to keep her emotions at a distance. But the film is firm in portraying the emotions as she delves into her humanity. It’s tense from start to finish and its serious tone is consistent. This can make the film a little difficult to get through emotionally, if only because it fails so frequently and never lets up. And yet, A mistake It is uncompromising and exciting. My eyes never left the screen, so enthralled was I by everything.

Elizabeth Banks is excellent in a role that is not easy

Mistake capitalizes on her ability to bring nuance and depth to Liz

There’s no doubt that Banks is a capable actress and she’s proven it time and time again in previous roles. But Liz’s portrayal of her is perhaps one of her most challenging roles to date. Liz went through a lot in A mistake, and Banks had to walk a fine line between emotional vulnerability and detachment. The character eventually falls apart as one thing leads to another and the duress of the situation increases, but the actress manages to make us feel bad for Liz while also wanting her to make amends.

It’s a nuanced role that Banks pulls off perfectly, capturing Liz’s experience in a way that makes us feel everything she’s going through. Like the film itself, Liz’s emotions are a slow buildup that erupts like a volcano before the ashes settle afterwards. The supporting cast (McBurney is especially good as the film’s antagonist, who comes between her and Liz) is also excellent and helps build Liz’s world. A mistake It is a winding and rocky path that accentuates the often empty detachment that is linked to medical practice, but that retains its humanity and importance at all times.

A mistake premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.

In the midst of a new plan to publicly report surgeons’ performance, a talented surgeon’s life falls apart when her colleagues begin to close ranks, and even her partner, who is a nurse at the hospital, turns his back on her.

Advantages

• Christine Jeffs masterfully portrays the nuances that the film’s story requires
• Elizabeth Banks gives a captivating performance that adds depth to Liz
• The film tackles a heavy topic with grace.
• A mistake is convincing from start to finish

Cons

• The tone of the film is often serious, with no middle ground.