This is a difficult film to write about. I don’t feel like I’ll be able to do it justice, but I want to talk about it anyway. I’ve had some horrified reactions from family and friends when I’ve recommended this documentary. Everyone thinks I’m weird for willingly watching a film about paediatric cancer, but I don’t agree. I absolutely understand why a lot of people would want to avoid it; to be honest, it’s heartbreaking – but I think there’s a lot to learn from it. It’s in two parts and both parts are two hours long so it’s pretty hefty stuff, especially considering it’s subject matter. It’s emotionally exhausting to watch so I wouldn’t advise watching it all in one sitting, but there is so much to take away from this beautiful film.

We’re introduced to five kids living in Ohio, all suffering from cancer. There’s Tim, Justin, Alexandra, Jen and Alex. We get a close look at their lives, their families and their personalities and get to know each of them well enough that when something bad happens, it is utterly devastating. Although the film is centered around one of the most terrifying things that can happen to a family and there’s a lot of sorrow, there are light-hearted moments too and the film is incredibly matter-of-fact. They don’t try to hide anything; so much of it is uncomfortable, painful and difficult to watch and we see some truly harrowing moments, but this only highlights the courage of both the children and the parents. Obviously every single person in this documentary is unforgettable, but Alexandra’s mother is a real stand-out. She manages to deal with an unimaginable situation with humour and honesty and always does her best to advocate for her daughter. We hear from the children’s doctors and nurses too, and learn about the difficulties and rewards of working on a children’s cancer ward. A hard-hitting moment in the film is when, during a briefing, a doctor reads out an excerpt from Albert Camus’ The Plague in lieu of a talk on Leukemia which accurately describes the horror of watching children suffering and perhaps explains why some medical professionals devote themselves to the care of these patients.

This is a beautifully made, honest film. It’s stayed with me since the first day I watched it and I genuinely feel that it’s changed me as a person. One of the reasons myself and so many others watch documentaries is because they open our minds to lives completely different to our own and help us build empathy. This film does just that, and although it’s a hard watch it’s really important. It gave me an understanding and appreciation for how humans cope in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. These stories need to be heard, so I’m going to keep talking about it.

Watch The Lion in the House on Neftlix