My Left Foot
Review no.6
Christy Brown is severely paralyzed (Cerebral Palsy), and has just the left foot under voluntary control. With only as much equipment, he struggles through everyday; and, becomes a poet, author and painter. My Left Foot is his biography, and vividly captures everything that it should.
Though the movie opens on a painful sight (protagonist working with his foot), it moves on to much brighter scenes. Overall a relish to watch. Irish culture is depicted in a very appropriate manner (both qualitatively and quantitatively); Christy’s mother gets unequivocal appreciation, and the tone of the entire movie is simply heart-warming.
All the same, I couldn’t help but wonder, at a purely personal level, if the movie comes close to reality. Not to undermine the value of keeping its watching-appeal alive, but, since cerebral palsy is a serious predicament, some serious issues seem to have been omitted from the movie. Some googling also revealed that Mary (Christy’s nurse and wife) was a former prostitute, and that Christy died of some sexual abuse. These darker issues are completely omitted from the movie.
The dedication and sweat of every person involved in this flick shows, in fact shouts for itself. And, it deserves all the credit it got. A scene that sticks with the viewer (presumably) is when Brown hears of his doctor, Eirene Collis’, marriage plans. His agony in the restaurant is excruciating, and one can just wait… Till he reconciles…
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