Introduction
Steel Magnolias is a movie by Robert Harling. Its title actually suggests that the leading female characters can be tough as steel and also delicate as magnolias. It is essentially about a bond among the group of women who come from a parish in Natchitoches, Louisiana area. Harling in this award winning movie demonstrates clearly the elderly lifestyle issues. Movies hardly portray the elderly lifestyle issues but Steel Magnolias is actually an exceptional. These movies seldom represent elderly people with diabetes. However, when this condition is built into plotline, line between what’s a precise portrayal of diabetes in the elderly and what’s exaggerated for the dramatic effect, it can in fact sometimes become blurred.
Released in 1989, Steel Magnolias is maybe one of most memorable films where diabetes among the elderly is portrayed. We understand that its story is essentially about the friendships and lives of 6 women who come from Louisiana in USA. It revolves around Shelby who we understand as having Type 1 diabetes and additionally suffers consequences that are devastating after she gives birth. Therefore, the story in this movie is primarily about unbreakable bonds and strength between the characters that is told with witty dialog and humor. The elderly lifestyle issues that is, the issues of diabetes among the elders is not put in the movie to create drama but it is a real issue.
For that reason, this is a movie about the problem of diabetes that mostly affects older people. This is in fact a lifestyle disease that is prevalent among the elderly in every society. Harling thus through his unique writing skills demonstrates the movie characters using lighthearted conversations and humor to cope with seriousness of their underlying situations. Thus, through this, he makes viewers understand the diabetic issues among the elderly.
References
Steel Magnolia (Musical group). (2011). Steel Magnolia. Nashville, Tenn.: Big Machine.
