Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien (1996)
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- Not Rated
- 35min
- Documentary, Short
- Short
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
Mark O'Brien | ... |
Self
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Elizabeth Duvall | ... |
Self
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Ian Berzon | ... |
Self
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Directed by
Jessica Yu |
Written by
Jessica Yu | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
Jessica Yu | ... | producer |
Music by
Sandra Tsing Loh | ... | (original music composed by) |
Cinematography by
Shana Hagan | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
Jessica Yu |
Sound Department
Curtis Choy | ... | sound recordist |
Bob Goold | ... | dialogue editor (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Ali Harding | ... | assistant camera (as Brian Harding) |
Music Department
Scott Brian Fraser | ... | Music recording engineer |
Sandra Tsing Loh | ... | musician: piano |
Mike Miller | ... | musician: guitar |
Mark Salzman | ... | musician: cello improvisations / musician: cello |
Additional Crew
Sandy Close | ... | consultant |
Betty Medsger | ... | stills courtesy of |
Mark O'Brien | ... | poetry excerpts / stills courtesy of |
Walter O'Brien | ... | stills courtesy of |
Jennifer Yu | ... | production assistant |
Martin Yu | ... | production assistant (as Marty Yu) |
Thanks
Ian Berzon | ... | special thanks |
Elizabeth Duvall | ... | special thanks |
Ann Hassett | ... | special thanks |
Dimitrios Kourtis | ... | special thanks |
Mickey | ... | special thanks |
Bob Niemack | ... | special thanks |
Jon Rhein | ... | special thanks |
Martha Salzman | ... | special thanks |
Pamela Tom | ... | special thanks |
Thomas Tuthill | ... | special thanks |
Bruce Ward | ... | special thanks |
Connie Yu | ... | special thanks |
Fu-Shen Yu | ... | special thanks: in memoriam |
John Yu | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Fanlight Productions (2009) (United States) (DVD)
- Icarus Films (2009) (United States)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
Plot Summary |
According to Mark O'Brien, "The two mythologies about disabled people break down to one: we can't do anything, or two: we can do everything. But the truth is, we're just human." O'Brien was a frequently published journalist and poet, and a contributor to National Public Radio. He contracted polio in childhood and, due to post-polio syndrome, spent much of his life in an iron lung. Yet for more than forty years, he fought against illness, bureaucracy and society's conflicting perceptions of disability for his right to lead an independent life. Breathing Lessons breaks down barriers to understanding by presenting an honest and intimate portrait of a complex, intelligent, beautiful and interesting person, who happens to be disabled. Incorporating the vivid imagery of O'Brien's poetry, and his candid, wry and often profound reflections on work, sex, death and God, this provocative film asks: what makes a life worth living? Written by Meredith Miller |
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Did You Know?
Soundtracks | Piano by Sandra Tsing Loh See more » |
Quotes |
Mark O'Brien:
Everybody becomes disabled unless they die first. See more » |