LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE Series #24. Matter of Time (Documentary film, 2025)

 LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE

Do you take delight in watching films or listening to pop music? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.

 

#24. Matter of Time (Documentary Film, 2025)

Matter of Time (2025) is a documentary that captures Eddie Vedder’s deeply moving benefit concert in Seattle, alongside the efforts of the EB Research Partnership to find a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa. The film presents the heartbreaking realities faced by those living with EB—many of them young children—and reveals the profound toll the disease takes on both patients and their families in the absence of an effective treatment.

 

“For me, my approach to life would be to live in each moment to the fullest and not dwell on the things that you can’t change.”

ð  This is a quote from a young woman suffering from EB who always tries to put on a lot of make-up on her face to hide her skin problems. She expresses the importance of valuing the present moment, especially when living with a condition that brings constant pain and limits one’s lifespan. The focus shifts from how long life lasts to how meaningful it can be—embracing joy and building genuine connections now rather than postponing them for an uncertain future. “Not dwell on the things that you can’t change” speaks to accepting the realities of the illness—the pain, the daily care routines, and the physical constraints—without becoming consumed by frustration or despair.

 

“Mom: What were we saying about mermaids?

Daughter with EB: Mermaids are special ‘cause they are half fish. They are different than everybody else. I have EB, so it kinda makes me special.”

ð  “Mermaids are special because they are half fish—they’re different from everyone else.”

Here, the daughter reshapes the meaning of being “different.” Rather than seeing her condition as a flaw or something to hide, she connects it to the uniqueness of a magical being. In her eyes, mermaids symbolize beauty, strength, and wonder—not limitation.  

“I have EB, so it kind of makes me special.”

This reflects a powerful way of coping. Epidermolysis Bullosa brings extreme skin fragility, frequent blistering, and ongoing pain that demands constant care. By interpreting her challenges as something that makes her “special,” the child claims her identity with confidence, turning hardship into a source of pride and personal strength. The mother’s role is equally significant. Her gentle prompt (“What were we saying…?”) shows a deliberate effort to guide her daughter toward resilience—encouraging imagination, self-acceptance, and a positive understanding of her differences. 

 

“(Singer Vedder) You meet these young folks who are dealing with this. It’s the most extreme version of seeing something as vulnerable as anything you’ve ever witnessed in your life on the planet. At the same time, they have showed me zillions of fortitude more than, again, anything you’ve ever witnessed or seen in your life.”

ð  This excerpt/ the quote of singer Vedder reflects a striking contrast between extreme physical fragility and extraordinary inner strength in those living with Epidermolysis Bullosa.

This line conveys the overwhelming sense of fragility the speaker feels when encountering these children. EB makes the skin incredibly delicate—so much so that even the gentlest contact can cause injury. What the speaker witnesses is vulnerability in its most raw and painful form, something far beyond ordinary human experience.

 

“At the same time, they have showed me zillions of fortitude more than… anything you’ve ever witnessed…”

Here, the focus shifts to a powerful contradiction. Despite their condition, these children and their families demonstrate remarkable courage, resilience, and emotional strength. Their ability to endure daily pain while still expressing joy, love, and determination leaves a profound impression—one that surpasses typical notions of bravery.

What the singer Vedder feels about the EB patients and their families can be summed up like this: Even in the face of extreme suffering, the human spirit can exhibit an astonishing capacity for strength, dignity, and hope.  

** Jean’s Small Thoughts:

Before watching the film, I had never heard of Epidermolysis Bullosa, a condition that affects children and stays with them throughout their lives. As I watched, I was struck by how early these children learn to live with circumstances they cannot change—both physically and emotionally. Despite enduring immense pain, they do not respond with constant cries or outbursts. Instead, they speak gently with their parents and focus on being present, finding small ways to bring moments of joy and distraction into their daily lives.

For those living with EB, each morning they wake up and each night they reach feels like a gift—something rare and worth cherishing. As Eddie Vedder reflects in the film, they are already fighting so hard just to live, and their strength deserves to be met with hope—that a cure may come sooner rather than later.