My Left Foot, based on the book by Christy
Brown
10 out of 10
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This
is an extraordinary film about Resilience, Persistence, Creativity, Bravery,
Humility and many other Character Strengths
-
It
is also a very relevant example for the phenomena called by Psychology –
Hedonic Adaptation
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It
is the story of a real hero:
-
Christy
Brown
-
For
this phenomenal role, Daniel Day-Lewis has won the Academy Award, Golden Globe,
BAFTA and other important awards
-
Brenda
Fricker as Mrs. Brown, Christy’s
exceptional mother has also won the Oscar, golden Globe and other prizes
-
Christy
is born with cerebral palsy at a time when this was a condemnation to a life of
turmoil
-
Indeed,
the doctors tell the parents that this is going to be a life long ordeal and
the son will be a legume
-
Surprisingly,
a humorous moment is associated with this, even if we do not really fall off
chairs laughing
-
Mr.
Brown is upset after hearing the news and goes to the pub…well, actually he
goes there often anyway
-
One
of the men in the bar come to the upset father and starts making “funny
„comments on the situation:
-
So
Brown, this is the end for you, hey?
-
How
is that?
-
What
will you do, tie a nod around it…hahaha?
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And
Mr. Brown hits the jester with his head in the mouth:
-
A
closed mouth catches no flies…words to that effect
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Christy
and his mother are phenomenal characters, Super humans and Role Models to a
great extent
-
Instead
of self- pity and indulging into a life of suffering and depression, the hero
becomes an artist
-
It
is a long, difficult journey and like everyone else, Christy has traumatic
experiences that he overcomes
-
In
Hedonic Adaptation terms, tests with paraplegics have shown that we adapt to
almost anything
-
Including
serious conditions that sends one to the wheel chair- it is an example given in
another mesmerizing film:
-
Before
Sunset, in which the main character talks about paraplegics and lottery winners
and says something like
-
Research
showed that it does not really matter, if you were and ass hole before winning
the big prize, it is the same after the jackpot and it the same with people in
wheelchairs- we return to a set level of happiness
-
Having
said that, it must be highlighted that Christy had to surpass terrible
obstacles in his life
-
He
has to use The Left Foot from the title, for nothing else seems to work in his
body and he is helped around by his family, especially his mother
-
To
render an accurate portrayal, Daniel Day-Lewis broke two ribs during filming
and would not go out of character for the duration, being helped to eat at the
canteen and even making his agent depart because of this courageous decision
-
Even
if he was given no chances for anything resembling a normal life, Christy shows
his remarkable intelligence early on
-
As
they discuss mathematics, the question is raised regarding a quarter of a
quarter- what is that?
-
The
father says this is nonsense, but his son who is not yet speaking then and can
barely use his foot to write, takes the chalk to write:
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1/16!
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Christy
Brown will not become a mathematician though, but an acclaimed painter first
and then a writer
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This
is not a story about pity
-
Milan
Kundera explains in The Unbearable Lightness of Being that there is a big
difference between
-
Pity
and compassion
-
The
former involves an attitude of superiority- we feel pity for someone that sits
lower- while compassion is felt at the same level
This is a
glorious film about: Vitality, Kindness, Social Intelligence, Appreciation of
Beauty, Gratitude, Hope, Humor, and Spirituality- on top of the aforementioned
Signature Strengths!
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