A Lion in the House

"Astonishing. Immensely rewarding. A Lion in the House bristles with a tension to rival any of TV's highly-rated medical dramas. Bognar and Reichert have assembled such a remarkable series of profiles in courage, and in the human will to live, that [the] pic's cumulative effect is nothing short of humbling, cathartic and even euphoric."--Scott Foundas, VARIETY One of the highlights of this year's Sundance Film Festival, A Lion in the House offers an unprecedented, epic-yet-intimate look at five families facing the crisis of having their children treated for cancer. The powerful documentary sensitively charts the interplay of hope and fear as each child responds or fails to respond to treatment. Made over the course of six years, the film focuses on patients and staff at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital. It provides a close-up look at life in an oncology ward and follows the kids as they try to adjust to life at home and school. The children draw strength from their parents and siblings as they in turn inspire their families. As much as anything else, the film is a deeply compassionate story of how families manage to cope with almost unimaginable crises. (225 mins., with one intermission, video)

A Lion in the House is a coproduction of the Independent Television Service and is scheduled for broadcast on WOSU.TV, Wednesday–Thursday, June 21–22, 9–11 pm.

The buzz is growing for this documentary with Ohio roots. The Boston Globe calls it "Epic. A documentary that many are finding impossible to shake off." The Cleveland Plain Dealer says it's "an astounding accomplishment" that brings viewers "tears, laughs, insights, faith, sympathy and great respect" for its participants. And Newsdays describes it as "a powerhouse documentary that transfixes viewers for every second of its near four-hour length." Don't miss your opportunity to see it with the filmmakers' own insights.

We know it's a long film, and you won't want to miss a moment. So, stop by the Wex Café's coffee cart before the screening or during intermission. Especially for this film, it's open 6:30 to 9:30 PM (or through the intermission) on May 16 & 17.