Jim Allison: Breakthrough is a documentary about Jim Allison, the father of immunotherapy, a new kind of cancer treatment that harnesses the immune system.
This is a must-see for anyone committed to the value of science in enhancing human life.
There are many heroic researchers in the film. But the two main heroes are Allison and Bristol-Myers Squibb, the pharmaceutical company willing to take the tremendous financial risk of developing this new, and at the time unproven, highly effective type of cancer therapy.
Allison had to fight for years to prove his theories and get the one of the first immunotherapies to market. He never gave up on his vision, even at personal cost (the dissolution of his first marriage).
The film does start a little slowly as the filmmaker tries to “humanize” Allison by showing his life outside the lab. But his most human characteristic is his unrelenting quest for truth. Once it gets going on the main story, however, the film picks up. Stay through the early credits for a surprising and delightful twist ending.
I saw the film at an art house theater in Philadelphia. You’re most likely to find it in that setting. You’ll also probably need to hurry if you want to see it in the theater, as it may not have a long theatrical run despite its merits.
I should add that this is a film that should also be seen by those proposing to use the government to loot the pharma industry, but I doubt it would change their minds as they are already very clear on the value of pharma. That’s why they want to seize its products.
/sb
