A Personal Account of Fear and Resilience

In a heartfelt interview with Deadline, Oscar-winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola shared a deeply personal account of his battle with polio as a child, merging memories of fear and resilience as he discusses his latest project, "Megalopolis."

Coppola's Experience with Polio

At the tender age of 9, Coppola was struck by the swift and debilitating onset of polio—a disease that primarily affects young children. "People don’t understand that polio is a fever that just hits you for one night," the director described, illustrating how this terrifying illness can plunge a child into a world of despair. He added, “You only are sick for one night. The terrible effects of polio, like being unable to breathe, having to be in an iron lung, or becoming completely paralyzed, stem from the damage inflicted during that singular evening.”

Memories of a Chaotic Hospital Ward

Coppola vividly recounted that harrowing night, stating, "I remember the ward was so crammed with kids that there were gurneys piled up three and four high in the hallways." The imagery he conjured portrays a chaotic scene reminiscent of a long-forgotten era when polio plagued families with fear.

The Danger of Polio

Polio, which is known for causing irreversible paralysis and even death, is most dangerous for children under five, and it is highly contagious. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) asserts that vaccination is the key to prevention, a resurgence of vaccine skepticism raises worrying concerns about the potential for renewed outbreaks.

Coppola's Dismay for Other Children

The now 85-year-old director expressed his dismay during his hospital stay, especially for the other children suffering more fiercely than him. "I remember the kids in the iron lungs, their faces visible in mirrors, all crying for their parents. They didn’t understand why they were suddenly confined in those steel cabinets," he lamented. “I was more frightened for those kids, and not for myself.”

Days of Suffering

Coppola's struggle with polio did not end there. After realizing he couldn't walk when trying to get out of bed, he spent ten agonizing days in the ward. It would be his father, composer Carmine Coppola, who tirelessly sought various treatments to help his son during this terrifying ordeal. "He saved my life," Coppola acknowledges.

Tribute to Vaccine Innovators

He did not miss the opportunity to pay tribute to the pioneering minds behind the polio vaccine, Dr. Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, who chose to donate their patents for the greater good. “They helped banish polio during a time of a terrifying epidemic,” Coppola emphasized, contrasting their altruism with today’s corporate control over vaccine patents.

A Timely Reminder

"With all these stories about the vaccine's power to save lives, it’s completely absurd to think we might revert our stance on vaccines now," he asserted emphatically.

The Importance of Medical Advancements

Coppola’s story stands not just as a personal recollection but as a powerful reminder of the relentless fight against disease and the importance of medical advancements in safeguarding future generations. With rising vaccination hesitancy, his words resonate louder than ever—will history repeat itself, or will we learn from it?