An Appreciation For "My Left Foot"
I took a movie break to watch "My Left Foot," starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Christy Brown. It is the true story of an Irishman suffering from severe cerebral palsy who against all odds went on to become an artist and writer. (The film is based on his autobiography.) I wanted to watch the 1989 movie because while achieving a global audience, it is an Irish film. Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker, who played Mr. Brown's mother, both won Academy Awards.
I watched the film with my own mother and one of the aspects of "My Left Foot" that I find the most moving is the relationship between mother and son. Christy Brown's mother carries him up the stairs when he is a young boy because his legs don't work. She teaches him the alphabet and saves money to buy him a wheelchair, which is no easy feat considering the family is impoverished and the father has a penchant for drinking and fighting. In Mrs. Brown's resolve to help her son, I see my own mother's determination to help me, even though, thankfully, my struggles are not as trying as Christy Brown's battles. The scene where she lights a candle in church with young Christy reminds me of all the times I've lit candles with my mom and paused to pray. I am especially touched by her determination to help him have a room for himself - a place to create - away from his many kindhearted, but boisterous siblings. (In total Mrs. Brown had 22 children, but 13 survived.)
The other aspect of the film that I appreciate is that the Dublin-born Christy Brown is not portrayed as a saint - someone who suffers silently. He does not accept his condition's verdict on his life. He rails against it. As a young boy, he is extremely frustrated because he can't speak, so others around him assume that he is intellectually disabled as well. His left foot - the only part of his body he can completely control - enables him to prove to his family and the world that he possesses a keen mind.
He also does not want his disability to stifle his love life. When his attempts at romance are met with rejection, he goes into a frenzy. At one point his despair is so great that he considers suicide. However, his fierce determination to live a full life, combined with the love of his family saves him from his own misery.Daniel Day-Lewis portrays this struggle so fully that I feel for this blameless person on the screen who is so desperate to overcome such horrible physical limitations. Hugh O'Conor, who so brillianty and believably portrays the young Christy Brown (Mr. Day-Lewis takes over when Christy turns 17), said that the revered actor broke two ribs during his performance in a commentary that was part of the special features on my DVD. I have read several times before that when he was working on a role, he didn't break character, even when the crew wasn't filming. It is no wonder that with such a rigorous work ethic, he has retired. Still, I hope he reconsiders. It is such a marvel to see him transform himself and breathe life into a character. He helped me discover this distinctive Irishman with a fiery soul and has offered me an unforgettable first stop on my exploration of Irish cinema.