Introducing, Selma Blair is a Raw Must-See Film

Occasionally, I watch something on a whim that winds up being so impactful, that I can’t let go of it. Not in an unhealthy way, but in a way that I feel I need to write about it and share the experience with other people. Introducing, Selma Blair was one such experience, and I can’t say I’ve watched anything quite like it before. It is a raw, deeply personal, powerful look into Selma’s struggle with Multiple Sclerosis and her attempts at taking back control of her life.

Before I go too far into this though, I want to just make a few things clear. This is not a review in the slightest. I don’t think you can really review something that so viscerally portrays another human being’s experiences and come out with any sort of integrity. This is something more along the lines of a recommendation because I have never seen another documentary so profoundly and honestly portray the true struggle of physical and chronic illness.

For some, it might be a difficult watch. Not because the film is bad, quite the opposite actually. It is so raw and painful to watch Selma struggle with her MS, and you so badly want to see her improve. As she goes through chemotherapy to prepare for Stem Cell transplantation treatment, you see her grappling with the shame that comes with chronic illness and even her own mortality.

At the same time, you see her go through the journey of processing complex feelings about her mother, as her mother enters the final phases of her own life. In a shining bright spot on the documentary, you see a powerful, strong relationship between Selma and her son. Even as her health and body are failing her, she does her best to be the best parent she can be.

In truth, I’m not going to go into a play-by-play of the film, because part of this article is encouraging you to watch it on Discovery+ if you can. I’ve always been fond of her work, even when she played smaller parts such as in Legally Blonde. However, I can honestly say that her attempt to maintain humor in the face of adversity and her own anxiety was honest and really gave me a better appreciation for her.

She portrayed my favorite character in Hellboy and its sequel as Liz Sherman, and though the documentary discusses her feelings on being perpetually a side character, she never comes off as bitter. Instead, she showcases doubts about her place in the world and her career, which I felt was very relatable. At the end of the film, she even said something that really stuck with me.

After her treatment in 2019 during the period of time in which she was recovering (which can take up to 2 years), she was asked if she would return to acting. At the time, she said that she wasn’t sure, commenting “I don’t know who would believe in me.” She performed a few roles in 2020, some film work, and even some work on the animated Ducktales series.

However, I think the documentary showcases something very important. Chronic Illness isn’t often pretty, and there are times where it can alienate people around us. Many people with chronic illness carry shame and frustration, because of our limitations or the perceived burden that it places on people who love us. For someone in Hollywood, I can imagine that due to how few disabled actors/actresses are visible, it must have felt as though that part of her life was over.

I really hope that isn’t the case. She has a sharp wit, beauty, grace, and unimaginable strength. Her capacity for humor, love, joy, and even her perseverance in spite of her pain are nothing short of commendable. I’m not often the person who derives joy from “inspirational” content. So many stories (fictional mostly) surrounding disabled people are used to make other people feel better because “It could be so much worse.” or “Look! They’re doing things and they’re disabled! Isn’t that cool?” like some sort of inspirational sideshow. Sometimes it winds up feeling exploitative.

Introducing, Selma Blair isn’t anything like that. It is honest, it is bleak in places, but it is also hopeful. It is refreshingly blunt about the fact that while she may struggle and she may have dark days, there is also a possibility for brightness and hope. I don’t quite have the words to express how healing, relatable, and emotional the film is.

I found myself feeling incredibly excited when she made progress and wanting to comfort her as she showed harder days. Like all people that deal with Chronic Illness, there are good days and bad days. Seeing her push forward and do the best she could with what she had gave me even more respect for her. We often want to hide our struggles from people, but she wore it clearly and honestly.

In fact, the film will likely hit different people in different places. Able-bodied people may get a glimpse into something that I pray they never have to face themselves. On the other hand, people who suffer from chronic illness or autoimmune disorders may find themselves feeling seen, heard, and understood.

At the end of the film, Selma marveled at how far she had come, stating “I never thought I’d be a disabled person that helps other disabled people.” If I had to sum up my feelings about it, I would say that by shining a light on her own struggles, she has indeed become that sort of person. Also, to counter her own words about not being sure if people would believe in her, I do.

She’ll never see this article, and I don’t have any illusions that she would. However, seeing her fight for her family, her son, her health, and herself, was a powerful experience. I didn’t think I’d come away from the film with so many thoughts and feelings, but she surprised me in many ways. Selma Blair is a strong woman, with a strong heart and a powerful spirit.