Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel frustrated and let down by the portrayals of Anaphylaxis in the film The Roses? (Spoiler alerts sorry)

27 replies

Hiddenraspberries · 02/09/2025 21:18

I just can't understand how they included anaphylaxis to raspberries as a plot strand three times- and yet did absolutely zero research into anaphylaxis and how it should be treated.

The result, a dangerously misrepresentative and misleading depiction that could lead people to think anaphylaxis is quite casual and that there's zero risk provided you have an EpiPen.

Olivia's character is shown twice deliberately choosing to eat raspberries (once because she likes them, once because she wants attention) even though she knows she has anaphylaxis. The implication is that an EpiPen will always solve it. This is not correct, EpiPens often help but sadly not always.

Secondly, the first aid they showed was so astonishingly flawed -.the pen was injected in the arm with a brief stab - it should be injected in the thigh and held there for several seconds.

And then she was shown as immediately better and back to running around like nothing had happened. Whereas you should go to hospital and avoid all exercise (and also avoid fizzy drinks and hot baths etc)

I accept it is a film, but the problem is it feeds into the myth that allergies "aren't all that bad really" and that EpiPens are a panacea whereas the reality is so much more complex.

I just don't understand how not a single person in the production team queried the stupidity of how anaphylaxis was presented.

OP posts:
SmallOrFarAway · 02/09/2025 21:40

I haven’t seen that film but I get what you mean. It’s ridiculous when tv and film people insist on including something as a plot but do zero research about it. You’re sitting going ‘that’s not how it works!’ and it totally takes you out of the scene.

I know they are not there to educate in most cases, but rather to entertain us, however how hard would it be to show someone using the pen in at least the correct place? Then maybe referencing needing to rest or get checked out. A close family member has a serious nut allergy and after they inject (usually if they’ve experienced cross contamination because most places are shit with allergies) they either throw up, or pass out, or are very wobbly and need a lot of time to sleep and recover. Definitely not just rush about as normal.

Why would someone with an allergy deliberately eat the thing anyway? Was the purpose of the scene to make her look stupid? (Ok if it’s a mild intolerance, I understand you might really want a taste and know you’ll vomit or be on the loo but I don’t know anyone with a serious allergy who goes ‘oh fuck it, why not, I’ve got my EpiPen kicking about somewhere and I might not die’.)

SaratogaFilly · 02/09/2025 21:36

It was a comedic farce of a movie, nothing more than that. Deliberately designed to be stupid.

Swipe left for the next trending thread