Movie Review: Matter of Time
One-liner: An earnest, heart-wrenching and soulful awareness documentary and well-balanced concert film.
Matter of Time is a heartbreaking documentary from director Matt Finlin that seeks to raise awareness for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a severely debilitating skin disease. The film centres on a 2023 benefit concert featuring Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. Interspersing an intimate set – at times accompanied by a string quartet – with the earnest stories of the film’s subjects, the documentary highlights a community united in its mission. Together, they aim to secure funding for a cure for this devastating condition, which primarily affects children who rarely live past their 30s. Driven by his wife, Jill, a lead spokesperson for the cause, Vedder lends his fame and talent to bring much-needed urgency and visibility to the movement.
Part concert film and part advocacy documentary, Matter of Time introduces viewers to a community united by a singular, desperate goal. Through interviews with parents, researchers, and those living with EB, the film captures the massive drive behind the EB Research Partnership. Medical experts Dr. Jean Tang and Dr. Anthony Oro weigh in on the science of the disease, while Eli Lund and Jill Vedder discuss the partnership’s progress and culture. The documentary also chronicles the lives of several individuals battling recessive dystrophic EB, including children like Eli, Rowan, and Charlie, as well as Garrett and Deanna, who have endured the condition for decades.
The hardships of living with EB are laid bare. Caretakers describe the relentless, exhausting reality of managing “butterfly skin” – a condition so fragile that it struggles to stay attached to the body, leading to constant blistering and open wounds. Providing a semblance of health and comfort requires specialized padding and around-the-clock wound care. Without a cure, this lifelong affliction often leads to shortened lifespans and aggressive skin cancers.
While Matter of Time adequately addresses the medical state of urgency, its true strength lies in putting a face on the disease. Seeing the resilience of these young patients is both soul-crushing and deeply inspiring. Despite being born into a life of physical disadvantage and often facing social ostracization, the subjects maintain a sense of independence and hope. The film functions as a fly-on-the-wall look at their lives, showing how they navigate adjustments to lead more normal lives despite the need for assisted care.
“Hi.”
Vedder’s music features “Matter of Time” and “Say Hi” off the EP, amid Pearl Jam classics such as “Better Man” and “Wish List”. These tracks punctuate these personal testimonies, acting as a bridge between heartfelt rock ballads and technical discussions regarding genetic editing. By switching between the emotional core that is the concert and the sobering reality of the clinic, Finlin ensures the viewer is moved without being completely overwhelmed by the tragedy.
Though it could have been slightly more condensed, this tender film strikes a fine balance between medical science and the human spirit. Matter of Time is a comprehensive, deeply humanistic hybrid – a spirited and hopeful documentary that finds joy in the face of tremendous challenge. Even though it may take a decade or longer to find a cure, the mission is clear and the sacrifice is future-focused.
The bottom line: Tender
