65_Redroses is a 2009 documentary film about Eva Markvoort, a young woman from New Westminster who suffered from cystic fibrosis. The film follows Markvoort as she lives her life, undaunted by her disease, waiting for a lung transplant, while blogging about her experiences.
Contents[hide]
1 Production
2 Release
3 Death
4 References
5 External links
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[edit] Production
The film began when Philip Lyall, a long-time friend, introduced her to his University of British Columbia film school partner Nimisha Makerji. Lyall and Makerji had been looking for a post-graduation project and decided to chronicle Markvoort’s wait for a double-lung transplant. They named the film 65_Redroses after her online identity, which Eva chose because it is common lore in the Canadian cystic fibrosis community that this is how young children with the disease sometimes mispronounce “cystic fibrosis”. Eva added 'red' because it was her favourite colour.[2]
When Lyall and Makerji began shooting, Markvoort’s lungs were so clogged doctors said that, without a transplant, she wouldn’t live to 2009. However, during a visit to a pumpkin patch the week before Halloween in 2007, her pager went off, indicating that a pair of lungs was available for transplant. This emotional sequence, for both the film subject and film crew, was instrumental in attracting the attention and backing of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.[2]
[edit] Release
65_Redroses premiered at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and won three awards at the Vancouver International Film Festival, including most popular Canadian film and documentary. It debuted on television on CBC's The Passionate Eye series and was acquired by the Public Broadcasting System for international distribution.[2]
[edit] Death
Despite early success following her double lung transplant in 2007, Markvoort died on March 27, 2010 at Vancouver General Hospital after a long battle with transplant rejection. Shortly before her passing, the 25-year-old theatre student received her degree from the University of Victoria at her hospital bedside.[3]
On March 25, Markvoort wrote the last post on her blog:
I am not managing, not managing at all. I'm drowning in the medications. I can't breathe. Every hour. Once an hour. I can't breathe. Something has to change.[3]
Markvoort had recorded an emotional farewell video on February 11, saying she likely had only days to live. In addition to her degree, she also received the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Doug Summerhayes award for outstanding commitment to the cause.[3]
[edit] References
^ "Bios & Credits". 65_REDROSES website. http://www.65redroses.com/?page_id=19. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
^ a b c Cauchi, E.D. (November 16, 2009). "Wave of inspiration". Eye Weekly (Toronto). http://www.eyeweekly.com/film/tv/article/77157. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
^ a b c DeRosa, Katie (April 1, 2010). "'Our beautiful girl' Eva Markvoort loses fight with cystic fibrosis". Vancouver Sun (Canwest News Service). http://www.vancouversun.com/health/beautiful+girl+Markvoort+loses+fight+with+cystic+fibrosis/2737145/story.html. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
[edit] External links
Eva Markvoort's blog 65 Red Roses
Film website
Watch 65_Redroses at CBC.ca
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/65_Redroses_(film)"
Categories: 2009 films Canadian documentary films Documentaries about health care Films shot in Vancouver Documentary television films Documentary films about women