The Fundamentals of Caring

Director: Rob Burnett

Based on the novel The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13604611-the-revised-fundamentals-of-caregiving. Trevor, the main character suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6291/duchenne-muscular-dystrophy

ONE QUESTION

Please choose one question and use examples from the film to illustrate your point. Each question has its own subset of questions; therefore, make sure that you answer all of them. Thank you.

1. Analyze the relationship between the two men, Trevor and Ben. Consider their sense of humor, their personal tragedies, how gender affects their relationship (positively or negatively- what is expected of them by societal norms), the intersection between gender and disability (Trevor) and grief (Ben), how they are each trapped -Trevor inside his body and Ben inside his mind.

2. Analyze the role that Dot (Selena Gómez) plays in the film. What is her personality? Does she perform her gender according to the norms? Why is that important? What does she teach Trevor? And Ben? How does she help the two men? How is the goodbye scene between Trevor and Dot? (Is there any music? Words? Why?) What about Peaches’ role? She is pregnant and Ben helps her deliver her baby. What does that situation symbolize for Ben? How does she help Ben?