Breathe (2017 film)
Breathe | |
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Directed by | Andy Serkis |
Written by | William Nicholson |
Produced by | Jonathan Cavendish |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Robert Richardson |
Edited by | Masahiro Hirakubo |
Music by | Nitin Sawhney |
Production companies |
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Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 117 minutes |
Countries |
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Language | English |
Budget | $15 million[2] |
Box office | $4.9 million[1] |
Breathe is a 2017
Breathe had its world premiere at the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2017, and was released in the United States by Bleecker Street on 13 October 2017 and in the United Kingdom by STXinternational on 27 October 2017. The film received mixed reviews from critics who praised Serkis' direction and Garfield and Foy's performances but felt that the film was glossed over with romance rather than focusing on Cavendish's disability and the lives of him and his family.
Plot
In 1958 in
While Jonathan is playing with his dog, the dog knocks out the plug of the ventilator. Robin realises, but unable to move or speak, he cannot get Diana's attention, so instead makes clicking noises with his tongue. Eventually, Diana finds him unresponsive and plugs the ventilator back in.
Seeing his son push a
Teddy makes various improvements to his design over time and eventually Robin teams up with Dr Clement Aitken to produce more of the chairs. Robin returns to his original hospital with more of Teddy's chairs and the rest of the patients in the ward leave with him.
After observing a German hospital's prison-like confinement of their severely disabled patients, Robin then appears at a conference and appeals to doctors to treat their patients more humanely, drawing a standing ovation.
Years later, Robin begins to experience severe bleeding due to his extended time on the respirator and decides it is time to stop prolonging his life indefinitely. He discusses his decision with Dr. Aitken who advises that Diana and Jonathan cannot be involved. He holds a farewell party with his many friends. Sometime later, he instructs his family to leave and return to the house at precise times. Jonathan, now in his thirties, and Diana see Aitken driving away and return to the house. Fading, Robin expresses his love for both of them and dies, having transformed the lives of many others like him.[3]
Cast
- Andrew Garfield as Robin Cavendish. A man who is given only 3 months to live after being "cruelly paralysed by polio" at the age of 28 and becomes one of the longest-living polio survivors in Britain.[3][4]
- Claire Foy as Diana Cavendish, Robin's wife.[5][6]
- Dean-Charles Chapman as Jonathan Cavendish[7]
- Tom Hollander as Bloggs and David Blacker[8]
- Hugh Bonneville as Teddy Hall[9][10]
- Ben Lloyd-Hughes as Dr. Don McQueen
- Ed Speleers as Colin Campbell
- Steven O'Donnell as Harry Tennyson
- Miranda Raison as Mary Dawnay
- Stephen Mangan as Dr. Clement Aitken
- Jonathan Hyde[11] as Dr. Entwistle
- Amit Shah as Dr. Khan
- Penny Downie as Tid
- Diana Rigg as Lady Neville
Production
The Cavendishes' son,
Release
In September 2016, Bleecker Street and Participant Media acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[13] In February 2017, STXinternational acquired British distribution rights to the film.[14]
The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2017.[15][16] It was also screened at the Opening Night Gala at the BFI London Film Festival.[17] It was released in the United States on October 13, 2017,[18] and the United Kingdom on October 27, 2017.[19]
Reception
Critical response
Upon release, the film received generally mixed reviews. On
The New York Times writer Jeannette Catsoulis gave a mixed review on the film stating that the film's true purpose "is smothered by a cloying fairy tale romance that turns every challenge the couple faces into a lark".[24] She did, however, go on to praise the actors but stated that they were held back by the script noting that "Mr. Garfield smiles broadly through episodes of near-suffocation and bloody sputum, while Ms. Foy embodies the buck-up-and-carry-on mentality that William Nicholson's screenplay demands".[24] The Hollywood Reporter writer Stephen Dalton also agreed that the film "feels more like Downton Abbey with a medical subplot than a serious biopic about an astoundingly able disabled man and his devoted wife".[25] On the main cast, he stated that,
"Breathe paints them as borderline saints, flattening their humanity and carefully glossing over potentially tricky subjects, notably sexual matters. Foy's performance, perky with a hint of steel, mostly rises above these limitations. But Garfield is inevitably hampered by a role that restricts him to little more than nodding and grinning. Tom Hollander also does double duty as Diana's twin brothers, his dual role seemingly an excuse for some creaky comic banter and slick visual effects".[25]
The New Zealand Herald writer Toby Woollaston praised Serkis' directing suggesting that "his attention to the film's technical minutia elevates it beyond a mere actorly drama".[26] He also praised the cast, specifically Garfield who "climbs wholeheartedly into the role of Robin and delivers a convincing performance despite only having his face to act with".[26] IndieWire writer Eric Kohn praised Garfield and Foy's performances noting that "Foy [...] gives a fragile, sincere performance as Robin's endlessly supportive partner, but Garfield ultimately emerges as the real draw. With subtle facial tics, he's able to convey a range of attitudes that serve as the movie's soulful core".[27] The Sydney Morning Herald writer Sandra Hall agreed that the movie is one of the "cheeriest" and often "there are times when the film's unassailable optimism gets in the way of its credibility".[28] Los Angeles Times writer Robert Abele called the film a "clichéd execution" noting that "Garfield and Foy, tasked with packing a whole marriage into one film, easily convey the attractiveness of being an indomitable team, but rarely get to plumb the depths of anything else".[29]
Accolades
Group | Year[a] | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
British Independent Film Awards | 2017 | Best Make-up and Hair Design | Jan Sewell | Nominated | [30] |
Best Sound | Breathe | Nominated | |||
El Gouna Film Festival | 2017 | Feature Narrative Competition | Nominated | [31] | |
Heartland Film Festival
|
2017 | Truly Moving Picture Award | Won | [32] | |
Philadelphia Film Festival | 2017 | Archie Award – Best First Feature | Andy Serkis | Nominated | [31] |
Notes
- ^ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.
References
- ^ a b c d "Breathe (2017)". The Numbers. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ScreenDaily. September 10, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
- ^ a b Barraclough, Leo (May 5, 2016). "Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy Join Andy Serkis' 'Breathe'". Variety.
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (September 10, 2016). "Toronto: Andrew Garfield Starrer 'Breathe' Goes to Bleecker Street, Participant". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
- ^ Evans, Greg (September 10, 2016). "Bleecker Street & Participant Media Nab North American Distribution Rights To Andy Serkis' 'Breathe' Starring Andrew Garfield – Toronto". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ De Semlyen, Phil (May 5, 2016). "Andy Serkis to direct Breathe: Andrew Garfield signs up". Empire.
- ^ White, James (July 14, 2016). "Game Of Thrones' Dean-Charles Chapman joins Andy Serkis' Breathe". Empire. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
- ^ "Bleecker Street & Participant Media Nab North American Distribution Rights To Andy Serkis' 'Breathe' Starring Andrew Garfield – Toronto". Deadline Hollywood. September 10, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
- ^ Renton, Alice; Renton, Tim (August 10, 1994). "Obituary: Robin Cavendish". The Independent.
- ^ "Bleecker Street and Participant Media acquire rights to Andy Serkis' BREATHE". Bleecker Street. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
- ^ Lodge, Guy (September 11, 2017). "Review: Andrew Garfield in 'Breathe'". Variety. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- London Evening Standard.
- Yahoo! Lifestyle.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (February 8, 2017). "STX Sets First UK Distribution Slate With 'Breathe', 'Home Again', 'The Irishman' & More As Offshore Expansion Continues". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ^ Staff. "The Toronto International Film Festival unveils first slate of films for 2017". TIFF. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ^ "Breathe". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ^ Korsner, Jason (June 29, 2017). "Andy Serkis Directorial Debut to Open London Film Festival". What's Worth Seeing.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (June 29, 2017). "'Breathe' Trailer: Andy Serkis-Helmed Pic Starring Andrew Garfield & Claire Foy To Open London Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ^ Grater, Tom (March 17, 2017). "STX dates first UK release 'Breathe' starring Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy". Screen International. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ^ "Breathe (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Breathe reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ a b Kermode, Mark; Critic, Observer Film (October 29, 2017). "Breathe review – a triumph of joy over adversity". The Guardian. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (September 15, 2017). "Breathe review – Andrew Garfield fronts poignant biopic of wheelchair pioneer". The Guardian. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Catsoulis, Jeannette (October 12, 2017). "Review: A Cheery Portrait of Severe Disability in 'Breathe'". The New York Times. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "'Breathe': Film Review - TIFF 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. September 11, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Movie Review: Breathe". NZ Herald. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ "'Breathe' Review: Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy Give Heartwarming Performances in Andy Serkis' Tearjerking Directorial Debut — TIFF". IndieWire. September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ "Breathe review: Andy Serkis' chirpy take on disability strains credibility". The Sydney Morning Herald. December 18, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ "Review: Inspirational story of 'Breathe' tamped down by clichéd execution". Los Angeles Times. October 12, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ Clarke, Stewart (November 1, 2017). "'Lady Macbeth' Tops Nominations for British Independent Film Awards". Variety. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ^ a b "Imaginarium Projects - Breathe". Imaginarium Productions. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ "Heartland Film Festival Announces 2017 Lineup, Will Honor Hollywood Legends Rob Reiner and Alan Ladd, Jr. with Lifetime Achievement Awards". Cision. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
External links
- Breathe at IMDb
- Breathe at Rotten Tomatoes
- Breathe at Box Office Mojo
- Breathe at Metacritic