85084 LIFE BEGINS AGAIN 1947 BRITISH CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL & PHYSICAL REHABILITATION FILM
Made in 1947 by Paul Rotha Productions, LIFE BEGINS AGAIN was created by the British Government's Ministry of Information to show that many of those who experience setbacks in life can start over in life, despite the physical injuries they might have suffered. Films like this one were considered important in post-WWII Great Britain, where hundreds of thousands of people (both soldiers and civilians) suffered life changing injuries as a result of the war. The government's "Emergency Hospital Scheme" was tasked with dealing with these patients and their considerable needs.<p><p>The film opens with a middle-aged man named Joe who broke his arm while doing fieldwork for his job. His injury puts him out of work for a couple of months. As Joe’s doctor performed regular checkups on him, the doctor notices that Joe has stiffness in his hand and recommends Joe to continue moving his hand as much as he cans. Even though Joe is back at work, he still has not fully recovered. <p><p>While Joe’s doctor goes out of town he discovers a man that was hit by a car and suffered a broken leg. While at the hospital the man and many others are treated for shock. There is a surgeon caring for these patients that have broken limbs. The surgeon tells Joe’s doctor of the different levels of shock. Depending on the level of shock a person has will determine what type of treatment he will be given.<p><p>Joe’s doctor marvels at the updated equipment this surgeon uses but wants to know how long before the man with the broken leg is able to return back to work. Even though the minimum time allowed is twelve weeks to heal, another doctor, Mr. Thomas, suggest a max of twelve months. Mr. Thomas explains that fancy equipment gets no one any further in healing. A surgeon’s role is to cure pain but he cannot cure fear. The fear is from a patient’s belief that he will not be normal again or fear of not ever working. In the end he’ll be either out of work or if one can work he’ll settle for any job that would pay him what’s suitable for his now condition.<p><p>Mr. Thomas details the importance of starting a rehabilitation center for those with broken bones. He details its benefits in having extracurricular activities in rehab. He believes that, “a person must get active to get fit not sit and wait for it to be done for him”. Games help to take away the pain of the individual because it’s fun for the individual which in the end takes their mind off the pain. Getting fit is a full time job not passive. Passive fitness takes second place to active fitness which in return dominates what a doctor does. Men can get interested in crafts and occupations where they have much movement which will allow them to strengthen those weak limbs. Rehab is like discipline but not a hospital. People in rehab know they will get better and get their jobs. <p><p>Not everybody who gets injured will be able to go to special centers such as rehab to get well. For the ones who will always be cripple such as those with amputated limbs, will have to take on specific jobs different than their original. Learning to use his new limbs by learning new skills allows him to be trained for new occupations. A surgeon’s job is to make an individual heal as if they’ve never had an accident so that they can be useful again to society. In order for this to be true, three things must happen. First, the surgeon must have good study. Second, the patient must work hard to get recovery. Lastly, everyone must play as a team to profit the most in order for the individual to begin life again. With these three factors rehab plays a major component in the healing process of one with physical injuries to be welcomed back to society.<p><p>We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example like: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."<p><p>This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com