Wednesday, June 5, 2013

June 5 - My Left Foot

Here is today's movie with scenes that happen today - June 5. I hope you enjoy it and watch it tonight. 


MY LEFT FOOT

Christy Brown is taken to a charity event and meets his handler, a nurse named Mary Carr. She starts to read his autobiography. Christy Brown was born handicapped on June 5, 1932. [6:56 to 8:57] He could not walk or talk, but was loved and supported by his family, especially his mother. When his mother has a stroke, Christy gets help. His father who had never really believed in him becomes a supporter when one day when he is about ten, Christy uses his left foot(the only part of his body he can really control) to write the word ‘mother’ with a piece of chalk on the floor. The family celebrate his seventeenth birthday [28:47 to 30:08]. Christy starts painting. He is included by the young people in his neighborhood in their activities such as playing street soccer and even sessions of ‘spin the bottle’. However when he paints a picture and gives to a girl he likes, she returns it to him. His father is laid off from his job and times become really tough. Christy, to his mother’s dismay comes up with a plan where his brothers are able to steal coal.  Christy’s elder sister, who was always very nice to him gets pregnant and has to get married and leave home. Christy’s mother who had hidden her savings in a tin in the fireplace finally saves enough to buy him a wheelchair. He meets Dr.  Eileen Cole, who takes him to her school for cerebral palsy patients and persuades a friend of hers to hold an exhibition of Christy’s work. However, at a diner afterwards he learns she is engaged to be married. Christy considers suicide. He and his mother build Christy his own private studio, but his father soon thereafter dies of a stroke. His wake degenerates in to a bar room brawl started by Christy.  Christy starts writing his autobiography, My Left Foot. Dr. Cole returns and they resume their friendship. Meanwhile, at the fete Christy asks Mary Carr to go out with him and they leave the fete together and an onscreen message tells us they later got married.     

A very uplifting film. One that you should watch if you’re feeling depressed. Afterwards you should be thankful for how small your problems really are. Daniel Day-Lewis certainly deserved his Oscar, as he was able to bring out Christy Brown’s personality without using words. 


Christy Brown: The Life That Inspired My Left Foot by Georgina Louise Hambleton (Mainstream Publishing, London, 2007) at page 20 gives his birthdate

Producer - Noel Pearson

Director - Jim Sheridan

Screenplay - Jim Sheridan and Shane Connaughton

Awards – The film won the Best Actor (Day-Lewis) and Best Supporting Actress   
                  (Fricker) Oscars. The Film was also nominated for the Best Picture, Best
                  Director and Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars.

Runtime – 1 hour 43 minutes

Released  - February 24, 1989

Starring –

Daniel Day-Lewis as Christy Brown
Brenda Fricker as Bridget Brown
Ray McAnally as Paddy Brown
Fiona Shaw as Dr. Eileen Cole
Hugh O'Conor as young Christy Brown
Kirsten Sheridan as Sharon Brown
Alison Whelan as Sheila Brown
Eanna MacLiam as Benny Brown
Declan Croghan as Tom Brown
Marie Conremme as Sadie Brown
Cyril Cusack as Lord Castlewelland
Phelim Drew as Brian
Ruth McCabe as Mary Carr





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