- 24 min documentary episode for the series, “Til Death us do Part”
For better, for worse, is presented as a deeply personal character study on the lives of Dr Ceiri and Angus Alexander, and the children they treat at Red Cross Children’s Hospital. We take a journey with them and experience their work with our countries children. We join them in moments of reflection and fear, follow their trials and tribulations, constantly staring death in the face.
Now, with Ceiri pregnant, her and Angus must confront their fears of raising a healthy child, whilst still coping with the pressures, financial and other, of everyday life. The film will build and strengthen our national family through a unique, emotional, rare, and eye- opening shared experience.
Dr. Angus and Ceiri Alexander are no ordinary married couple, and their story is truly unique. Only recently wed, they are the first married couple working together at Red Cross Children’s hospital in Cape Town. Add to this the fact that Ceiri had just fallen pregnant, and we have the fascinating story of a couple who must balance their demanding jobs, cope with the pressures of their relationship, as well as deal with the arrival of their first child.
Being above all a character driven story, For better, for worse, will take a deeply personalized look at this remarkable couple, and how their demanding lifestyles impact on their relationship. We will be right there for their first hand experiences with our countries most precious commodity- our children. We will reveal the trials and tribulations, the heartbreak and the hope, and the true essence of what it is like to constantly be in the so- called pressure cooker.
For better, for worse, will go deep behind hospital walls in order to reveal a highly personalized account of how Ceiri and Angus deal with the trauma they face every day, and how this spills over into their personal lives. Our journey with them will culminate when we share the birth of their first child.
Ceiri and Angus believe that there are both benefits and negative aspects to partnerships within medicine. One definitely has a better understanding and acceptance of each other’s trials and lifestyles. One can share knowledge and experience, which can improve patient’s care, without having to go through the normal hospital hierarchy. However ones private home life tends to suffer a little as calls are inevitably different. Their sole personal interaction may be a quick cup of tea in the hospital cafeteria, or a kiss in the hospital corridor. It is not uncommon for Ceiri and Angus to spend alternate weekends alone, with the other on call at the hospital. Angus says, “Although one promises to give family life priority it is very difficult to leave a sick, hurt child for someone else to deal with, even when ones duties for the day are over”.
With HIV so prevalent, and not enough access to care and appropriate medications, the doctor’s role extends beyond that of caretaker, to one who plays the role of God. Often in the emergency situation one realises that there is nothing more that can be done, and one then has to council the parents of imminent death. This, say Ceiri and Angus, is often the worst part of the job.
Ceiri and Angus; “I don’t believe that we are any better than the security guard at the bank, we all have a job to do and how we do it is the most important thing; however, as medics we are privileged to partake of life’s very essence; the beginning, the end and the very full bit in between. Now, with our first child on the way, our demanding lives, and particularly our relationship, have taken on a new dynamic. We cannot wait for the challenges that await us, the different approaches we will have to use in order to build a strong, happy, and ever lasting family bond, while at the same time maintaining our extremely demanding and pressurized careers. It would be so special to be able to share some of these aspects with others; perhaps they too would be inspired”...
The documentary is directed by Jonathan Boynton-Lee & produced by Kevin Harris as part of the Documentary Director Mentorship Program run by the Rainbow Documentary Production Collective.