My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
Seen it?1989 | 103 min | Drama
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won 2 Oscars, audiences rate it highly (7.5 out of 10) and it made about 23 times its budget. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. If you loved I Swear or In America, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 43 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
No one expects much from Christy Brown, a boy with cerebral palsy born into a working-class Irish family. Though Christy is a spastic quadriplegic and essentially paralyzed, a miraculous event occurs when, at the age of 5, he demonstrates control of his left foot by using chalk to scrawl a word on the floor. With the help of his steely mother — and no shortage of grit and determination — Christy overcomes his infirmity to become a painter, poet and author.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 97 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 2 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Actor, Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress. Won 2 BAFTAs: British Academy Film Awards: Best Actor, British Academy Film Awards: Best Supporting Actor. Won 1 Independent Spirit Award: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Foreign Film. Also nominated for 3 more Oscars, 2 Golden Globes and 3 more BAFTAs. Plus 6 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$15 million worldwide on a $645K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 418K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
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Radio Weeknight WatchAnother true-story drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
In America
Saturday SpecialAlso from director Jim Sheridan, though it's a different kind of film: a drama, and a Saturday Special.
Nowhere Special
Sunday Safe BetAnother true-story drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jim Sheridan
- Daniel Day-LewisChristy Brown
- Brenda FrickerMrs. Brown
- Alison WhelanSheila
- Kirsten SheridanSharon
- Declan CroghanTom
- Eanna MacLiamBenny
- Marie ConmeeSadie
- Cyril CusackLord Castlewelland
- Phelim DrewBrian
- Ruth McCabeMary