A return to form: Christine Jeffs’ ’A Mistake’ explores medical ethics and personal turmoil
A long-awaited comeback
It’s been 16 years since Christine Jeffs graced us with her last feature, the seriocomic indie gem “Sunshine Cleaning,” starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt. Now, Jeffs returns with “A Mistake,” a film that harks back to her 2001 debut, “Rain.” Set in her native New Zealand, this new feature adapts Carl Shuker’s fifth novel, diving deep into the murky waters of medical ethics and bureaucratic red tape. Elizabeth Banks stars as an Auckland surgeon whose career is jeopardized after a routine procedure goes tragically wrong. Quiver Distribution is set to release the film in over 100 U.S. theaters this Friday.
The plot thickens
Elizabeth Taylor (Banks) is a highly respected specialist, jolted awake during a grueling night shift by an emergency. A patient, previously discharged with minor ailments, is re-admitted with severe abdominal pain. Taylor diagnoses the condition as requiring immediate surgery. However, what was initially thought to be appendicitis turns out to be a severe septicemia infection. During the operation, Taylor allows her nervous trainee, Richard (Richard Crouchley), to insert a gas port into the abdomen. He botches the procedure, rupturing an artery. Despite the mishap, the surgery concludes successfully, and the patient, Lisa (Acacia O’Connor), is presumed to be out of danger. Tragically, Lisa later suffers a fatal cardiac arrest in the ICU.
The fallout
The gravity of Lisa’s condition had not been detected earlier, leading Taylor to believe that Richard’s error wasn’t fatal. However, to protect her trainee, she initially covers up his mistake. The distraught parents (Rena Owen, Matthew Sunderland) are not satisfied with the explanation for their daughter’s death, and pressure mounts to assign blame. This situation is further complicated by new hospital policies requiring surgical outcomes to be publicly posted for transparency. Taylor argues that this will unfairly target surgeons, reducing complex decisions to mere online ratings. Her protest puts her at odds with the hospital bureaucrat Andrew (Simon McBurney), who seems eager to scapegoat her, especially after the grieving parents take their story to the tabloid press.
A nuanced portrayal
Jeffs’ measured approach can sometimes make the script feel overloaded with underdeveloped issues. The filmmaker seems more interested in capturing the protagonist’s growing frustration than building tension. Beyond the potential derailment of her career, Taylor must deal with Richard’s panic, unexpected disloyalty from her girlfriend Robin (Mickey Sumner), and personal stressors like taking care of her sister’s dog and an insect infestation at home.
While the supporting characters are well-acted, they lack depth, making their crises feel somewhat hollow. Even Taylor could use more detailing. In the source novel, Dr. Taylor is portrayed as a more intimidatingly driven figure, which would sharpen some of the conflicts here. Banks, known for her warm, empathetic performances, makes Taylor’s trials feel more contrived than they might have otherwise. This also affects her adversarial relationship with Andrew, who comes off as a one-dimensional villain.
The film’s strengths
Despite these quibbles, “A Mistake” remains compelling. Jeffs’ low-key approach focuses our attention on a smart but embattled female protagonist during a period of escalating internal and external strife. Banks is persuasive as a natural leader who prefers to encourage collective effort but will take a stand against blatant injustice. This culminates in a somewhat predictable but satisfying big speech at Andrew’s expense. The film ends on a lengthy shot that doesn’t quite achieve the intended cathartic impact, yet it engrosses in its exploration of the complexities of the healing arts.
Aesthetic and technical elements
The film’s aesthetic draws from the cool neutrality of institutional settings, supported by a sleek but unshowy design. A graceful orchestral score by Frank Ilfman adds an expressive layer without veering into melodrama.
Final thoughts
“A Mistake” may not be a knockout, but it affirms Christine Jeffs’ knack for intelligent adult drama. The film’s exploration of medical ethics and personal turmoil offers a nuanced look at the life-and-death decisions faced by healthcare professionals. Elizabeth Banks delivers a compelling performance, making this imperfect drama a thought-provoking watch.
For more information and to watch the trailer, visit A Mistake.
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