Year of Release: 1989Country of Origin: Ireland, UK
Director: Jim Sheridan
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Brenda Fricker
Plot outline: Based on the true story of Christy Brown who was born with cerebral palsy. He learned to paint and write with his only controllable limb - his left foot (IMDb).
Prior to 1989, not many knew of Daniel Day-Lewis - sure, he'd starred in a handful of British arthouse flicks in the Eighties, but he wasn't very visible in the cinematic consciousness. Jim Sheridan's directorial debut, My Left Foot changed all that. The deeply moving true story of cerebral palsy-afflicted and celebrated Irish polymath Christy Brown, My Left Foot is an alternately tough and tender movie that deals honestly with disabilities, hinging upon Day-Lewis' utterly compelling and award-winning performance. Unfolding contrary to the usual "life-affirming triumph" biographies that Hollywood churns out, My Left Foot centers on the story of Christy Brown. Paralyzed from birth, he's written off as helpless and intellectually stunted - his strong-willed mother (Brenda Fricker, who collected an Oscar for her work) begs to disagree. By encouraging Christy to use his left foot (his only controllable limb), he soon learns how to write and becomes a famous author, artist and fundraiser. As he comes into his own, he also falls in love with his nurse. Nominated for five Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress) and winner of two, Sheridan's unblinking veracity lends an air of raw realism to what otherwise be an insufferably tear-jerking story. As it stands, the movie earns the right to pluck heartstrings, doing so in as unsentimental a way as possible. (PJ)
My judgement: ***1/2 out of 4 stars
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