"SICK: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF BOB FLANAGAN, SUPERMASOCHIST"
Bob Flanagan was born with cystic fibrosis, a disease that fills the lungs with thick, sticky mucus which makes breathing difficult and painful. Because he was in pain all his life, he fights the pain with more pain as an act of defiance. He then has a lifelong relationship with Sheree Rose (also serving as associate producer and cinematographer, which I imagine is because much of the film is home video that she shot). She signs a contract that allows her to have total control of Bob's mind and body. As sick as it may sound, they have a beautiful relationship, and they were obviously meant to be together.
Bob Flanagan was a performance artist who did some of the most disgusting things to himself that you can imagine, but he wasn't a sick deviant. For 22 years, he would sing to kids at a cystic fibrosis summer camp, and you get the impression that aside from his being a "supermasochist," he was a really kind, polite gentleman.
When the time comes where Bob dies almost literally on camera (I'm not giving anything away... read the title of the movie), you realize that although it may be argued that he wasn't entirely sane, Bob Flanagan, who died around his late 30s/early 40s, fought the disease successfully much longer than most do (those with cystic fibrosis usually die as children, but some live until their early twenties)
The film is only 90 minutes, but it still dragged a bit. I think that after the first shocking image, you wanna see how far it'll go, so all the stuff in between seemed too long. I dunno. Watch the movie and you'll know what I mean.
Almost everyone in the theater had to look away for some of the film.
Kirby Dick (Director, producer, and one of the cinematographers
and editors) shows you some EXTREMELY hard-to-watch stuff, but when all
is said and done, you walk out knowing that you'll NEVER forget this
movie, nor will you ever forget Bob Flanagan.