My Left Foot
- Daniel Day- Lewis: Christy Brown
- Brenda Fricker: Mrs. Brown
- Hugh O'Conor: The young Christy
- Alison Whelan: Sheila
- Ray McAnally: Mr. Brown
- Cyril Cusack: Lord Castlewelland
My Left Foot ( Original: My Left Foot ) is an Irish- British drama film from 1989, directed by Jim Sheridan with Daniel Day- Lewis in the role of severely disabled Christy Brown ( 1932-1981 ). It is the screen adaptation of the autobiographical novel by Christy Brown from 1954.
Action
He describes the story of a boy who was born as the tenth of thirteen surviving children of an Irish family and almost completely paralyzed because of athetosis. Especially his mother believed that put a sentient and thinking being in it. Their hope was confirmed when he succeeded with his left foot to grab a piece of chalk. Because of therapies, including breathing and relaxation exercises, he was able to make further progress.
In the film adaptation of the boy writes for the first time with the chalk to a miracle, the word "MOTHER ", German mother. The actual first time with the piece of chalk succeeded Brown "a wild sort of scribble ", so at least a few lines. The progress of the real Christy Brown were much slower than presented in the film, but no less important for him and his family.
In his book he describes his pilgrimage to Lourdes. The hoped-for recovery failed to materialize, but was the encounter with many other people who are seriously ill, an important experience. This experience does not appear in the film.
The film ends at the point at which Brown has become a successful writer and the nurse Mary Carr gets to know that he married at the age of 40 years. Brown was more active as an author and died of suffocation ten years later.
Reviews
" Sensitively directed, described with almost documentary precision life story; excellent actor and a precise direction to bring the man and his problems in a challenging sympathy for staging into the picture. "
"Both performers Christy show admirable sensitivity the physical agony of the boy and the man and his psychic torment, depending despite all the intellectual brilliance to be like an infant. But they also show his wit and humor. "
Awards (selection)
- Award for Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis
- Award for Best Supporting Actress for Brenda Fricker
- Nomination for Best Director for Jim Sheridan
- Award for Daniel Day- Lewis for Best Actor.
- Award for Best Supporting Actor Ray McAnally.
- Award for Daniel Day- Lewis for Best Actor.
- Award for Best Supporting Actress Brenda Fricker.