Channel 4 commissions 'Elephant Man'

Channel 4 has commissioned The Real Elephant Man, a one-off documentary from September Films that follows the work of a physician who deals with abnormal tumours.

The programme will focus on the case of Huang Chuncai, a 31 year old man suffering with an extreme case of neurofibroma, a tumour of the nervous system. Chuncai's tumour is so large that it hangs down from his face, blocking his left eye and knocking out his teeth.

The documentary will explore Chuncai's treatment and will show how he recovers his identity after the removal of the tumour. In doing so, it will look at other issues facing China such as Chinese attempts to compete with Western medicine and surgical techniques.

"This is an incredibly amazing and moving story to film," said Sheldon Lazarus, creative director at September Films. "The FUDA Cancer Hospital's ground-breaking work is second-to-none and Huang's fascinating life will be explored from birth to present day, using his family members' testimony, as well as his own."




Source: Digital Spy