Although A Boy Called Alex originally aired on the 24th, I missed it. What else I was doing, I'm not sure, but I was thrilled that More 4 replayed the film again last night at 10:35. Did you see it? I hope you saw it, because it is a brilliant, inspiring little film that will instantly make you appreciate your life, and your lungs, just a little more.

A Boy Called Alex is about, well, a boy called Alex who is an incredibly talented musician and is 16-years-old. Alex is a music scholar at the prestigious all boy school, Eton, and has taken on the extremely difficult task of conducting Bach's Magnificat. As if this piece wasn't difficult enough to conduct, he has an orchestra filled with 62 of Eton's finest musicians. (Mind you, that's 62 teenage boys.) The catch? Alex was born with cystic fibrosis, which is a genetically-inherited disease which is slowly destroying his digestive system and his lungs.

You wouldn't know he was ill by looking at him, as his demeanor is so enthusiastic and passionate, that you can practically see music notes in his eyes. He's one of the most positive people I've ever seen, and about 5 seconds into the film, you just fall in love with him. His entire family is interviewed periodically throughout the film, and not once do you see any of them cry. They are positive, and glowing with pride for their brother, and not once do you see them crawl into a cave of despair. In fact, you never will see Alex do that either.

The film tracks Alex as he rehearses with his schoolmates to conduct the Magnificat. About two weeks into rehearsals, Alex comes down with an infection, which is incredibly dangerous for Alex, as cystic fibrosis already fills his lungs and pancreas with mucus. His mother shows us the heaps and heaps of medication and pills that Alex has to endure every single day (50+ pills!!), including the feeding tube he's had implanted in his chest, where he's given multiple injections a day. We're also shown the intense physiotherapy Alex goes through every day, where he's basically smacked in the ribs consistently over and over, presumably to help break out up the mucus in his lungs.

There are incredible ups and downs in this hour long film and you'll probably find yourself catching your breath every time there's a freeze frame, dreading to see a "Alex passed away..." message. The music from the choir is fantastic, and eerily angelic as you watch Alex struggle with his health, day after day, week after week. In fact, there's one specific sequence with the choir singing in rehearsals, where they cut away to show the stark contrast of Alex laying in his hospital bed staring into space, then back to kids his age at school playing football or cricket. It is completely and utterly heartbreaking moment to watch.

I suppose the suspense of wondering if the boys will pull off performing the Magnificat is immeasurable to watching and willing Alex to get better, but it is such a beautiful story. I suppose the over all message of this film would be best summed up with a quote from Alex himself,

"Music makes me forget about where I am or what state I am in or what's happening to my lungs. Music is my hope. It's everything."

Cate Sevilla is the Deputy Editor of TV Scoop. She's feeling rather humbled today.