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It is not easy for a child to watch his parent struggle with a serious illness. But it can be an even bigger challenge when that parent is also a public figure with a naturally curious fan base. This is the situation Jack and Mercedes Kilmer have been living with in recent years as a father – Top Gun star Val Kilmer – fought a public and private battle against throat cancer. Kilmer’s health issues, which affected his ability to speak, are highlighted in very personal new documentary Val, premiering August 6 on Prime Video. His associated adult children produced and appear extensively in the film, which includes footage of the actor during some of the lower moments of his illness.
“It’s incredibly difficult,” Mercedes Kilmer told Yahoo Entertainment of her father’s sighting at such times. “Especially for him because his job is his voice. [Because of] his training as an actor … he has such a natural speaking ability, and I don’t think he honestly would have survived … without his dedication to building that muscle in his voice. “(Watch our interview video below) above.)
Since Kilmer now speaks using a voicemail following his recent tracheostomy, Jack Kilmer acts as his father’s voice in Val. The young Kilmer tells the story of his father’s life as it unfolds through family films shot by Kilmer on his various film sets, alongside new footage filmed by directors Leo Scott and Ting Poo. “He’s such a force of nature,” says his son. “He’ll be down in the hospital, making jokes and making all the staff laugh. We were more worried about people’s reaction. [to his illness] than going through the process with him, but people ended up being nothing but support and freshness. “
Raised as a Christian scientist, Kilmer said The New York Times last year that he was initially reluctant to see a doctor after being diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014. In that same interview, he suggested that his children had finally convinced him to pursue treatment, and also attributed his healing to prayer rather than medical procedures. . “I prayed, and that was my form of treatment,” he remarked, adding that he believed that procedures like his tracheostomy had “caused my suffering.”
When asked what those early conversations about seeking medical treatment were like, his children offer a somewhat different account of what happened. “We have both always respected his beliefs, something that is very important to me is bodily autonomy,” says Mercedes Kilmer. “I always wanted him to get better and I always cared very much about what was going on with his health, but I deeply respect the way he handled it and I respect his right to be healed as he is. hears best. ” Jack adds, “I mean, who wants to go to the doctor?” It sucks, you know?
Corn Val isn’t just a chronicle of Kilmer’s health issues: it’s also a first-hand account of his film career, covering favorite films such as tomb stone, The doors and of course, Top Gun. The actor had a camcorder with him throughout the set of Tony Scott’s favorite 1986 movie – which recently celebrated its 35th birthday – and this never-before-seen footage of Kilmer partying alongside young Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards and Rick Rossovich provides some of the Valmost memorable moments. And the filmmakers tease that there’s even more they couldn’t include. “There are several hours of this material,” director Leo Scott said. “It’s very iconic. We probably could have made a half hour version of it if we had wanted to!”
maybe Top Gun-only cut of Val may precede the release of the highly anticipated sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, which is scheduled for release in November after being repeatedly delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Top Gun producer Jerry Bruckheimer has previously promised Yahoo Entertainment that Kilmer will reprise his signing role as Cruise’s nemesis, Iceman. “No spoilers, but he’s in the movie,” he teased last year.
Kilmer’s children can confirm their father’s appearance since they were on set when he filmed his cameo. “We were this close to Tom’s face, ”recalls Jack. “He came over to give me a hug and just looked me straight in the eye. It was very surreal! “Mercedes remembers how delighted she was to see her father reunite with the Top Gun crew. “It was really beautiful … I had never seen all the behind-the-scenes stuff from Top Gun, but my dad filmed it all, and you can see the guys having fun on set. And they’re all exactly the same when they’re together now. ”
As for what the future holds for their father, the siblings suggest he will find other creative avenues beyond the big screen. “Playing is just one of the things he does,” notes Jack. “He thrives on doing a lot of other creative things.” His sister adds: “He never stops working, never! He has a lot of stuff in the works. As for acting, he can’t act like he used to, but everything he does is kind of. extension. And you see it throughout this film: this collage of different characters and identities makes up the person he is. ”
Val is currently streaming on Prime Video
– Video produced by Anne Lilburn and edited by Jason Fitzpatrick
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