The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (HBO)
Henrietta Lacks' cells revolutionize medical science.
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About The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (HBO)
Released: 2017
Platform: Max
Rating: TV-MA
Run time:
Cast
Oprah Winfrey, Rose Byrne, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Reg E. Cathey, John Douglas Thompson, Rocky Carroll, Adriane Lenox, Roger Robinson, Lisa Arrindell, Leslie Uggams, John Beasley, Andrea Frye, Melvin Van Peebles, Reed Birney, Gabriel Ebert, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Terry Alexander, Jaedon Godley, Jaylon Gordon, Courtney B. Vance, Peter Gerety, Byron Jennings, Jane Rumbaua, Karen Reynolds, Tinashe Kajese, Jasmine Ellis, Tian Richards, L. Warren Young, Kyanna Simone Simpson, Jordon Eli Arellano, De'Marco Michael Arrington, Tyvonna Jones, Patrick Walker, Ninja Devoe, Earl Poitier, John Benjamin Hickey, Laura Steele, David Prete, Dolan Wilson, Sean Freeland, Jacquez McKissic, Brandon O'Dell, Mary Shaw, Kate Bond, Eric Mendenhall, Alfred Carter Jr., Tatom Pender, Elizabeth Hackler
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (HBO, 2017)
About The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' is a biographical drama film that was released on HBO in 2017. The story revolves around Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cells were used without her consent to create the first immortal human cell line that led to numerous medical breakthroughs. The plot details the discovery, her family's fight for her recognition, and their struggle to gain control over the part of Henrietta still alive in labs that bought her cells.
Making / Production
The film was produced by Oprah Winfrey and Alan Ball among others. It was directed by George C. Wolfe and based on the non-fiction book of the same name written by Rebecca Skloot. Several years of extensive research went into the making of this movie to accurately depict the life and struggles of Henrietta Lacks and her family.
Actors
- Oprah Winfrey: She played Deborah Lacks, Henrietta's daughter, trying to uncover the truth about her mother's cells. Winfrey gave a powerful performance full of emotion and determination.
- Rose Byrne: She portrayed Rebecca Skloot, the author who helped Deborah uncover the truth. Byrne excellently depicted the character's steadfastness and empathy.
- Renée Elise Goldsberry: She played the role of Henrietta Lacks. Goldsberry convincingly portrayed Henrietta's strength and innocence.
Trivia / Interesting Facts
- This film is an adaptation of Rebecca Skloot's 2010 non-fiction book of the same name.
- The film marks Oprah Winfrey's first leading film/TV role since 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' ended in 2011.
- The HeLa cell line derived from Henrietta Lacks is still used in biomedical research today.
Quotes
- "Like I always say, if you gonna go into history, you can't do it with a hate heart." - Deborah Lacks
- "You famous, Mama. You got your cells in all the labs around the world." - Deborah Lacks
- "Nobody in the family ever understood it - how could a dead woman be alive in a laboratory?" - Rebecca Skloot
Music, Soundtrack
- Score Composed by: Branford Marsalis
- The film features music from the 1950s to reflect the time period of Henrietta Lacks' life.
- Some of the songs in the film include "I've Just Told Mama Goodbye" by Hank Williams and "God's Radar" by The Dixie Hummingbirds.
About The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (HBO)
A woman uncovers the truth about her mother, Henrietta Lacks, whose cells revolutionized medicine.
