Now Is Good - Film Resource

This resource was devised as part of a series of resources for the
FILMCLUB & Department of Health 'Start the Conversation' project
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Now Is Good (2012, 12) 11+ 103 mins
More intense films
Emotional drama with some distressing scenes of illness but mild depictions of sex, drugs
and drinking. Suitable for mature members 12+.
What’s this film about?
A must see new release. Dakota Fanning plays a young, British leukaemia patient in this
moving drama. As her family and friends struggle to come to terms with her illness 17
year-old Tessa is determined to cram in as much life experience as possible into the
limited time she has left. Her to-do list is an interesting take on what we want to
experience as teenagers with dancing, drugs and losing her virginity coming top. An
emotional film that skilfully avoids melodrama and schmaltz with strong performances
from a great cast and some frank depictions of terminal illness.
Issues raised in this film
Alcohol: There is a party where everyone is drinking; Tessa pours beer over a boy’s
head.
Drugs: Tessa takes magic mushrooms neutral/positive portrayal.
Pregnancy: Tessa’s friend has drunken sex and becomes pregnant. The boy loses
interest but the friend keeps the baby.
Sex: Tessa rejects a one-night stand and eventually has sex with her boyfriend; this is
not shown or discussed in detail.
Before the film: Starter activity
Have you got a list of things you would really
like to do over the course of your whole life?
How would your list change if you found out
the world was going to end in a few months?
After the film: Discussion questions
1. High up items on Tessa’s ‘to do’ list are
losing her virginity and taking drugs
before she dies. Why do you think this
is so important to her?
2. Her parents have different reactions to
Tessa’s illness and her ‘to do’ list. Do
you think they would act differently if
she wasn’t ill? Can parents be
unhelpful or even unreasonable when
talking about these things?
3. Tessa takes lots of risks because she
thinks there are no consequences for
her because of illness. Meanwhile, Zoe
ends up pregnant after taking drugs
and having sex at a party. Do you
think people act differently when they
think there aren’t any consequences?
What are the consequences of having
unprotected sex and taking drugs?
Teacher notes to support discussion questions
1. Are these two things seen as being essential to being
a young person? Students working in pairs may well
have a variety of opinons on this. Tessa nearly has a
one night stand but changes her mind which
suggests that it is not as simple as crossing things off
a list. It’s important she waits until she is ready even
though she only has a short time to live.
2. Her father is in denial and very protective. He
doesn't want her boyfriend staying round. Why do
you think he does this? Her mother is blase about her
seeing boys and partying but is afraid to deal with
her illness. Students can split into pairs to debate the
approach taken by Tessa’s parents, and whether
they would act differently.
3. There are clearly very real consequences for Zoe
having unprotected sex. She finds herself pregnant
but she could also have got an STI like chlamydia.
Even if you are using other contraception, condoms
are needed to protect yourself and your partner
against STIs. Do you think Zoe forgets to use
contraception because she has taken drugs? What
are the other risks of taking drugs?
Signposting
If any of your students have been affected by, or need support with any of the issues raised in the
project, then signpost the following organisations:
Smoking www.talktofrank.com/drug/tobacco NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0169 Drinking www.talktofrank.com/drug/alcohol FRANK 0800 77 66 00
Drugs www.talktofrank.com FRANK 0800 77 66 00 Sex & Relationships www.nhs.uk\worthtalkingabout Worth Talking About 0800 567 123 If this film has created a great debate, get your students’ voices heard by writing reviews at www.filmclub.org