My Left Foot is an Irish-British film directed by Jim Sheridan. It tells the true story of Christy Brown, a Dublin artist suffering from spastic paralysis, which forces him to paint with his left foot. Starring the brilliant Daniel Day Lewis, this film won 2 Oscars. A great film that tells the story of surpassing oneself with finesse and sensitivity.
My Left Foot
1932. Christy Brown is born in Dublin. At the age of two, doctors diagnosed him with spastic cerebral palsy, preventing him from using his limbs, speaking or even feeding himself. At the time, the medical profession had only a rudimentary grasp of this pathology, plunging an entire family into sadness and grief.
Although severely handicapped, at the age of 9 he was able to control his left foot and began to paint.
Closely monitored by Dr. Eileen Cole at a specialized institution, he makes progress… and then falls in love with her…
My Left Foot
If you’re allergic to melodramas, don’t bother! My Left Foot is a poignant film that aptly tackles the issue of disability. And for this, director Jim Sheridan drew on the true story of Christy Brown, a well-known Irish artist and writer, famous for his struggle, and for his ability to write and paint with his left foot.
A real feat, performed with talent and thoughtfulness…
That’s why the film follows Christy Brown from childhood to adulthood, as he struggles with his disability. The goal? Realizing his dream of becoming a writer and painter.
Thanks to his determination, courage and the help of his family, Christy overcame his physical limitations and was recognized by his peers as a talented artist.
Christy Brown is presented as a determined and courageous person who wants to live his life as independently as possible. He uses his foot to write, but also to draw and paint. His paintings sell for a lot of money, but they are not recognized by the art world. It was her mother, a very courageous woman, who finally fought for her paintings to be recognized by the art world. Christy also inspires courage in her brother, who looks after him full-time and treats him as an equal.
Daniel Day-Lewis’s phenomenal portrayal of Christy Brown’s life makes this film a must-see. Her performance is powerful and captivating, and her physical transformation into Christy is remarkable.
The actor is so committed to the role that he literally bursts onto the screen, raising public awareness of the afflictions of cerebral palsy, a pathology that affects cognitive, motor and social abilities.
For this project, the actor learned to control his own body differently, learning to breathe through his abdomen rather than his chest. He has also spent a lot of time with people with cerebral palsy to better understand how they move and how their bodies are affected. It’s a thorough job, which won him the Oscar for Best Actor.
This film is an emotional rollercoaster that touches the audience in many ways. It’s a slow film, which may make some viewers impatient. But its powerful story makes it a must-see for those who appreciate feature films that take a profound look at life.
The icing on the cake: the story is set in Ireland in the 1930s. A wild setting, marked by rurality, social inequality and the omnipresence of the Catholic religion in the life of the population.
Exciting historical references that make the film even more credible!
The film was released in 1989 and won numerous awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture and the Oscar for Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance as Christy Brown.
The film was also nominated for three BAFTAs, the Irish Film and Television Award and the British Society of Cinematographers Award.
It was also named one of the 100 best films of the 20th century by the Sight and Sound poll, and was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 2016.
3.67/5 (9 votes)
