1 in 2 (2026) Documentary Film Review

Directed by: David Nicholas Wilkinson

Written by: David Nicholas Wilkinson, Emily’s Price

Starring: James Van Der Beek, Chadwick Boseman, Miriam Margolyes

Film Review by: Holly Baker

1 in 2 (2026) is a feature-length documentary written and directed by David Nicholas Wilkinson. The film follows Wilkinson’s, along with several other subjects’, journey of living through bowel cancer treatment, particularly undergoing chemotherapy.

Made up of several interview clips along with segments of Wilkinson speaking to the camera, both whilst receiving treatment and during his alone time, the film laments the severe difficulties that patients with bowel cancer face. There is no shying away from the details of the disease, such as the disastrous impact on mental health that treatments such as stomas can have, as well as the physical impacts of having bowel troubles and how this gets in the way of daily life. Viewers will feel engagingly informed about the realities of cancer, which will likely affect either them or a loved one, as more and more people continue to be diagnosed.

As with any disease, bowel cancer begins with diagnosis. Wilkinson, along with the other interviewees featured in the documentary, takes extra care to highlight how difficult a bowel cancer diagnosis is to obtain. Patients’ tumours often go unnoticed for a long period of time, due to the NHS guidelines which are followed by GPs. Through portraying patients’ experiences of misdiagnosis and late diagnosis which severely impacted their chances of having a longer lifespan, the documentary does a neat job of not blaming any individual or organisation, keeping the focus on the work that is being done to make diagnoses more accurate.

By including such an intimate perspective, the documentary has its difficult moments. Viewers are given an insight into some graphic descriptions and images of people suffering from bowel cancer. These are very important representations for such a personal and visceral disease, and are incredibly interesting for those wanting to learn more.

The harsh aspects of dealing with the illness are the main topic of the documentary, particularly in relation to patients' mortality. However, there is light shown in the wholesome, community aspects of the disease. The documentary informs viewers of the groups of people who have found each other through their common factor of having bowel cancer. These people express the way that getting to share the graphic aspects of their treatment made them feel a lot less alone when dealing with it. As well as this, the documentary shows the way that community projects can change individuals ' perspectives on aspects of treatment, such as a stoma. Stomas are often seen as disgusting and as a burden to deal with; however, the documentary poses the idea that the stoma is a signifier of life, as they often extend that of those who have one. 

There is an interesting incorporation of lightheartedness and comedy in the documentary which Wilkinson navigates well. Wilkinson’s interactions with nurses and doctors are shown authentically and lovingly, we witness him making jokes with them and speaking to the staff on a friendly level which is lovely to see. As well as this, viewers are given such a close-up view of his everyday life, we witness what is happening in his body as he explains it in real time to the camera. Wilkinson finds himself in various uncomfortable scenarios which can be nightmarish to imagine, however, he seems to find humour in the bizarreness of these situations. This importantly highlights the humanity in those not only suffering from the illness, but also the treatment system, placing cancer and the world of cancer treatment within the normal, relatable world as viewers see recognisable kinds of people who are involved in treatments every day.

The subjects in the documentary are from all walks of life, older, younger, famous, etc. There is also a big focus on the way that the illness not only affects the patient, but also their family, such as the children of a mother who is unable to properly take care of them due to the excessive fatigue she deals with. This importantly brings attention to the way that cancer can affect anyone, and conveys the film’s strong message of encouraging viewers to take tests so that tumours are found sooner rather than later.

1 In 2 will be in UK Cinemas from 13th November 2026.