A Woman Like Me

When Alex Sichel was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she decided to make a movie about it. Unsure as to whether it should be a documentary or a narrative, Sichel ended up with a hybrid, chronicling her treatment while introducing us to a fictional female character who's "having much more fun with the diagnosis than I am"—and, finally, adding a metalayer exploring the dual filmmaking process. As she moves from early consultations with healers to tough decisions about chemotherapy, from her own video diary to the playful story of her double, Anna (played by Lili Taylor), the lines between Sichel's art and her reality begin to blur. The result is a heartbreaking yet uplifting look at a fascinating, good-humored, courageous woman so full of life that it's hard to accept her death sentence. (Denver International Film Festival)