**Dallas Buyers Club Discussion Paper**
The journey of Ron Woodroof is one from a stereotypical cowboy type to a man who seeks justice through healing and healing through justice for all those ostracised by having AIDS in the 1980s. Within the film, Woodroof is diagnosed with AIDS that he contracted from sleeping with an intravenous drug user two years prior. Despite contracting this disease in this fashion his family and friends believe that he got it from being a gay man having sex with other men. The film opens us up to the reality that AIDS was a disease that was not understood by anyone in the 1980s, while many were quick to blame the gay community for it. Now despite this unfortunate event, we can draw on theses circumstances and notice how unfair situations can either motivate or stifle entrepreneurs.
Ron meets Rayon, a transgender woman who he eventually goes into business with. They soon form The Dallas Buyers Club whos mission is to allow AIDS patients the ability to purchase drugs that will actually prolong their lives. Through this relationship comes the revelation of how society has violently blamed the community for something that no one truly knows how it originated. Themes of compassion, justice and healing dominate the narrative as Ron and Rayon become friends and Ron changes from a cowboy to a man who understands another for who they are, not what they appear to be, it is evident that these interactions that were briefly mentioned show how detrimental society can be on innovators. The film is ever more meaningful as it is based on the true account of Ron Woodroof's journey to prolong his life and his fight against the FDA. A regulatory, scientific and public health agency that oversees all manufacture, import, transport, storage, and sale of over $1 trillion worth of products every year. We can tie this into your society today we can see how powerful the FDA is and how this could stifle entrepreneurs considering how many challenges one could face in that perspective. With all FDA-approved products, within the film we see that his life is enriched by the compassion he's able to learn to have for those he doesn't understand, while also becoming part of the fight for those who seek to live in dire circumstances as they are not only faced with the insurmountable challenge of overcoming AIDS interpersonally, but also on the level of being part of a society that is regulated by the government setting stringent rules from the FDA. We see the Food and Drug Administration as necessary and how it creates corruption through the drug companies greed which spills over into hospitals through trials. We also observe as people get rich off of death and Dr. Saks represents the need to stand up and oppose this way of healing. The main theme of the movie that can be seen within our society today is that there is stranglehold that big drug companies have on both the drug market, and also to a certain extent on the FDA as well. After his HIV diagnosis, Ron realises that there are few drug options that have been approved that might treat his disease and so turns to less orthodox medical practitioners, and the FDA goes to great lengths to prevent these treatments being developed and brought to America. There are many reasons for the strain on new incoming innovators, many regulations and things of that nature are sometimes put in place to hider those entrepreneurs and that is something that is evident throughout the film and can be taken away and applied to the lives of the innovators today.
One of the lesser themes of the film is the dilemma between what is the legal thing to do and what is the right thing to do and the way in which these two seemingly and almost identical things diverge greatly when it comes to the medical profession. Dr Vaas has had his medical licence revoked and is therefore legally not allowed to work as a doctor; however, he is also in possession of a treatment for the HIV virus that actually seems to have benefits and may work in slowing the progression of the disease. Though it was quite illegal for him to prescribe this, it is also largely unethical to withhold something that can help people and perhaps also begin to prolong and save lives. This ethical dilemma is shown throughout the movie and throughout our entrepreneurs in society who go through the same circumstances through their lifelong interactions.
The film vividly creates meaning through relationship which we can clearly see in the film. An example is when authorities come into Ron's hospital room when Dr. Sevard wants to give him AZT once more. This clearly represents the need of Sevard to use restraint to demand what he wants to do, to impose his will upon another without their consent. Another example of the use of relationship is in the scene where Rayon gives Ron her life insurance money which she sold. There is a softness of light in Rayon's room, the sole desk light on in Ron's room both of these create an understanding for us viewers. This is the major theme of the film: that when others are suffering we have the opportunity to do something about it, it is our choice to either act and fight in love or retreat in fear, or reject out of ignorance and those interactions are what show an entrepreneurs true intentions, when a consumer has a need it is up to the entrepreneur to act on those impulses and ultimately create something that will be a solution to their problem and of value.
Lastly, there was a great focus on character which allows us to experience all of this in the journey of the film and we gain an empathy for the characters in a way that we get to live a couple of hours in their shoes. We are also granted the opportunity to experience their fight through the filter of our own lives and imaginations. The film brings forth an emotional aspect that strikes the chord of justice and compassion not being just words but lives lived toward the reality of them existing on the earth while enduring great suffering and at an unimaginable price.