EthelThursday, 6pmNo one’s immune to pain and suffering, the key to surviving is to have your wits about you, Ethel Kennedy believed.It was one of the last bits of advice the Kennedy matriarch gave as part of a documentary on her life and relationship with husband Robert Kennedy.‘Ethel’ is a cleverly crafted portrait of an iconic woman and her family, who banded together to reshape America’s unjust social and racial environment.Director Rory Kennedy, the youngest of Ethel’s 11 children, packaged incredible footage and archived information with stirring interviews with her mother and siblings to create the film.She recounts how they had fun as a family playing sports and sitting around the dinner table and stood together during moments of extreme heartbreak and tragedy.Ethel’s parents died in a plane accident. Both her husband and brother-in-law, former President John F Kennedy, were assassinated; she also had to bury two of her sons — one died in his 20s from a drug overdose and another died in a ski accident.The film starts with the happier times in her life, recounting how she and Robert met on a ski trip. For Ethel it was love at first sight; Robert had his eye on her sister, whom he dated for two years.He travelled to Israel as a reporter with the Boston Post, after which luck turned in Ethel’s favour. Ethel’s sister was married by the time he returned, giving Ethel the opportunity to win Robert over.Ethel had always been free-spirited, and was raised in a wealthy Irish Catholic household. Her father was a self-made businessman and a staunch conservative.She played a key role in getting both John and her husband elected into their various political roles. She joined the Kennedy women in hosting tea parties and other events to garner the female vote in the 1960s.Ethel could never be entirely tamed and had a few funny brushes with the law. She once thought she was helping by taking an emaciated horse into her care the horse’s owners saw it as stealing.While on a trip to Italy she made international headlines after she boldly rode a scooter given to her as a present straight into another vehicle.The love and support she had for her husband is always evident in the documentary. Robert’s world collapses with the murder of his brother on November 22, 1963 — the tragedy eventually inspired him to take a more active role in politics.He is touched by seeing children living in poverty in America’s South, and racial minorities brutally and unfairly treated.When he dies just years later Ethel’s world is rocked, but she has to try and hold the family together.Her youngest daughter Rory was born months after Robert’s death and was “the joy of [her] life” during those sad times.The children credit their mother for passing on her compassionate and charitable spirit, but Ethel insists it’s their father’s doing. “I just don’t feel I can take the credit,” she said.‘Ethel’ is an inspiration to watch.