Neuro Note: 50 First Dates

            For this neuro note assignment, I chose to watch the movie 50 First Dates, which is on Netflix. Growing up, I watched this movie multiple times a year with my sister and we would always play the soundtrack for weeks after. However, I have never watched it with a background in neurological aspects to understand what they are talking about. This movie is about a guy that develops a relationship with a girl and then finds out that she cannot remember anything after she goes to sleep. He learns that the girl, Lucy, was in a car accident about a year ago, where her father was driving and she was in the passenger seat. They almost hit a cow and instead spun off the road and into a tree. The doctor explains to them that Lucy’s temporal lobe was severely damaged in the accident. As we have learned in class, the temporal lobe is the portion of the brain that deals with memory. He further explains that the scar tissue is impairing her short term memory to turn into long term memory, and calls this condition “Goldfield Syndrome.” This condition allows her to remember everything up until the accident, but cannot remember anything that happens after. Upon further research, I learned that this condition was made up for 50 First Dates, which I found interesting.

Throughout the movie, they work on trying to help Lucy regain memory. Her boyfriend, Henry, records a video every day to explain the new things she has experienced, as well as the past year up until her accident.  At one point, they decided that Henry needed to move on with his life, because she would never be able to have a life with him. After deciding that this was best, Henry left, but realized on his journey that this was not true and she could remember him. When Henry returned, Lucy had no recollection of who he was, but brought him to her art studio, where she had drawings of him covering every wall. She explains that she dreams of him every night, having no idea who he is. They end up getting married and having a child. Though this was a fictional movie, I still believe that the message it sent was that even if you have a serious injury, you can still have a successful relationship and life. This injury does not define you. As occupational therapists, we will want to help our clients perform any activity or role that they desire, which is exactly what Henry does with Lucy. He devotes his life to helping her at the same time as furthering his career and life. My point of view changed drastically watching this movie before and after beginning OT school. While I always loved this movie, I know have so much more knowledge about the injury, as well as the recovery process.

50 First Dates. Directed by Peter Segal. Columbia Pictures Corporation, 2004. Netflix. https://www.netflix.com/watch/60033311?trackId=15035895&tctx=3%2C0%2C8c8cdc51-574d-47d4-90eb-93a145c22d07-2298851%2Ceb532b94-e3ab-4e81-b95d-a6457439eec6_571421X54XX1522965221965%2Ceb532b94-e3ab-4e81-b95d-a6457439eec6_ROOT