Breathe

I probably would have seen this film even if I didn't know that Andy Serkis was its director. This is his directorial debut and concerning his contribution, he couldn't have done better. The story being told in "Breathe" was very inspirational and applicable to me up until the end of the film. Considering the fact that Robin Cavendish's son Jonathan was the film's producer, I really have no right to criticize the ending. We are all entitled to our opinions on various issues and Cavendish has the ability to use this medium to communicate his opinion. The overall message of the film is a very good one: providing freedom and rights to the disabled. I am of the opinion however that with freedom and rights comes responsibility and accountability. There was also a contradiction in the film's theme that slightly lowered the rating I gave the film. Spoilers are forthcoming by the way in order to better articulate my opinion on this movie.

The filmmakers set up their story very well at the film's beginning. You feel the love between Robin and Diana and it comes across as very genuine. Then comes the inciting incident and a feeling of hopelessness. It appears to be the end of Robin's life and the end of Robin and Diana's love. This is where the pair defied the odds. Robin was given months to live when diagnosed and then given weeks upon choosing to leave the hospital. Funny enough, these odds were based on assumptions such as the conviction that no "responaut" could live outside the hospital. No one had tried to push the limits before. Every time the Cavendish family comes up with a "great escape", they try to one-up themselves. I love the little joke of when Robin rings the bell when coming up with the idea of a wheelchair. The scene in Spain is the best in the whole show. It starts out as suspenseful because the family is stranded on the side of the road but then the scene becomes comedic when the locals set up camp and entertainment at the site. The family's quest then transforms into providing the same blessings that Robin enjoys to those with his condition. I can't think of a better climax for the movie than Robin, who now has freedom, trying to give freedom to those like him. Paddy comes to represent all those who Robin wants to help. If only the film had ended with Robin speaking at the conference in Germany. The actual climax of the film made the movie depressing again and not because Robin dies. We will all die someday and many films to show their protagonist passing away but the filmmakers felt the need to take a stance on current issues concerning the terminally ill or the disabled. This is where the film becomes contradictory and it reflects the contradictions in society. It is inappropriate in society for example to say that a person has freed themselves by committing suicide but there is a growing movement to legalized assisted suicide. I know the issues are a lot more complicated than that and as I said, producer Jonathan Cavendish has a right to take a stance on this issue. My stance is that we should go on until we have fulfilled our purpose. We really don't know when our purpose in life is fulfilled because we are in the hands of a Higher Power and we can't judge someone who decides to take their own life. Robin was an atheist, which is obvious in the movie. This raises another question: why does the film include the Spanish priest? It seems to be yet another contradiction. I may not be able to fully relate to Robin's situation but I do have a grandmother with Multiple Sclerosis. Her husband died just as the disease began to take its toll on her body and many would not have guessed that she would make it to her late 70's but she has. She is paralyzed from the mid-section down and can't feel anything from the neck down. Despite how painful and hard this must be, she shows no sign of giving up and that is more courageous than anything I have done or could ever do. Robin actually died in 1994 instead of the early 80's as depicted in the film. I am left to ask why the filmmakers made this change. They could have easily remained historically accurate but it seems they wanted to push their message. Even though the filmmakers' intentions are good, this message affected the film's level of inspiration and enjoyment.

Andrew Garfield had to deliver a performance similar to Eddie Redmayne's Oscar-winning performance in "The Theory of Everything" and he likewise delivered. I love Claire Foy in Netflix's "The Crown" and I can't wait for more of her film roles. The chemistry between these two actors was perfect. I also recognized Jonathan Hyde. I was wondering if this film had any secret special effects considering the director. Just like Garfield's breakout film "The Social Network", we have one actor playing twins. I was completely fooled by the seemless special effects used to accomplish this and Serkis' knowledge of this aspect of filmmaking is surely responsible. I also took note of the POV shots that Serkis employed to show what Robin is going through. Screenwriter William Nicholson has two career Oscar nominations (one of which for "Gladiator") and has penned some other great movies in the past. I wonder whether he came up with the ending of "Breathe" or was it those who appointed him to write this movie.

The story of this film is a man who chooses to live and then chooses to die. "Breathe" is an advocacy for assisted suicide and the filmmakers are entitled to use this medium in their advocacy but the few contradictions towards the end of the story really prevented me from fully praising this script. This movie had the potential to fully inspire and motivate me but it tripped at the finish line metaphorically speaking. The movie was still quite well done and I attribute that to the director and lead actors.

3.5 Stars