Last Thursday a few of our A2 Media class were invited to visit the BFI Southbank London Film Festival, and were given the opportunity to watch a early-release screening of Andy Serkis' Breathe. Far from the rushed nightmare of a journey I'd expected of the travel up to Waterloo, we arrived at the centre relatively unscathed and with the same number of students we'd left with. This success stayed with us for the rest of the trip, creating a relaxed atmosphere for the day that was a relief after the bustle of the college week.
Breathe is the heart-wrenching tale of Robin Cavendish (Andrew Garfield), an upper-middle-class man who meets the woman of his dreams as she waves him on during a cricket game. The well-spoken, clean-cut couple venture to Kenya, where Cavendish starts up a tea-broking business and his wife Diana (Claire Foy) becomes pregnant. Before the baby is born, however, Cavendish falls ill and is diagnosed with polio, given only three months to live.
The plot follows the family's struggle to cope with the diagnosis, the symptoms and Cavendish's forecast untimely death. Through the lows (when the disease robs him of the use of any muscles from the neck down, Cavendish begs to be left to die) and the highs (the family and their friends become a celebrated group into the development of modern disability aids) the audience are held captive by the tension, the love and the intense emotion that threatens to tear the family apart but ultimately brings them stronger together. Though I didn't cry during the film, I may or may not have reached for a tissue as the credits rolled.
The most remarkable thing about this film, however, is not the wondrous script by William Nicholson. It's not Andrew Garfield's Oscar-worthy portrayal of Cavendish, and his ability to convey so complex a character with nothing but his speech and facial expressions. It's not the gorgeous lighting that enhances warm and touching moments with soft yellows and oranges, nor the understated yet powerful soundtrack. This film was based on a true story, and produced by the real-life Robin and Diana's son Jonathan Cavendish.
We were privileged enough to attend a Q&A with the producer afterwards, and his devotion to his family was clear in how passionately he talked about every aspect of the film. Garfield and Foy's performances, he said, were like seeing his parents on-screen, reliving their past in such a romantic and touching way. The premiere was also attended by a representative of Rotary GBI, a non-profit organisation which has made huge contributions to the research and prevention of polio. The disease has reduced by 99% over the last 30 years, from approximately 350,000 cases to only 37 reported cases in 2016.
The film has also caught the attention of others, giving audiences an emotional insight into the lives of the disabled rather than just statistics (which, on their own, often mean very little). Garfield has voiced his own thoughts on the issue, saying "it's a crime the world isn't more accessible to disabled people". Films like this, with controversial or unusual topics, get people talking, and this can help raise awareness and support for the issues raised (in this case, disability and its effects) through discussion and film promotion alone.
The plot follows the family's struggle to cope with the diagnosis, the symptoms and Cavendish's forecast untimely death. Through the lows (when the disease robs him of the use of any muscles from the neck down, Cavendish begs to be left to die) and the highs (the family and their friends become a celebrated group into the development of modern disability aids) the audience are held captive by the tension, the love and the intense emotion that threatens to tear the family apart but ultimately brings them stronger together. Though I didn't cry during the film, I may or may not have reached for a tissue as the credits rolled.
The most remarkable thing about this film, however, is not the wondrous script by William Nicholson. It's not Andrew Garfield's Oscar-worthy portrayal of Cavendish, and his ability to convey so complex a character with nothing but his speech and facial expressions. It's not the gorgeous lighting that enhances warm and touching moments with soft yellows and oranges, nor the understated yet powerful soundtrack. This film was based on a true story, and produced by the real-life Robin and Diana's son Jonathan Cavendish.
We were privileged enough to attend a Q&A with the producer afterwards, and his devotion to his family was clear in how passionately he talked about every aspect of the film. Garfield and Foy's performances, he said, were like seeing his parents on-screen, reliving their past in such a romantic and touching way. The premiere was also attended by a representative of Rotary GBI, a non-profit organisation which has made huge contributions to the research and prevention of polio. The disease has reduced by 99% over the last 30 years, from approximately 350,000 cases to only 37 reported cases in 2016.
The film has also caught the attention of others, giving audiences an emotional insight into the lives of the disabled rather than just statistics (which, on their own, often mean very little). Garfield has voiced his own thoughts on the issue, saying "it's a crime the world isn't more accessible to disabled people". Films like this, with controversial or unusual topics, get people talking, and this can help raise awareness and support for the issues raised (in this case, disability and its effects) through discussion and film promotion alone.
Fantastic! Well written and presented as ever!
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