My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
A fiercely gifted Irish artist turns severe physical limitation and social dismissal into a life of writing, painting, and hard-won self-definition.
Overview
A powerful tale of resilience and artistry emerges from the struggles of a young man.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- intimate
- sincere
- harrowing
- reflective evening
- biography film night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a deeply complete and unsentimental portrait of Christy Brown, elevated by Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker's performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Christy develops as a writer and painter within a large poor Irish family and a society that dismisses his abilities.
Christy uses his dexterous left foot to write and paint, making physical agency central to his creative life.
Mrs. Brown recognizes Christy's intelligence and humanity when others regard him as incapable.
Daniel Day-Lewis portrays Christy's changing physicality and cantankerous personality across adulthood, following Hugh O'Conor's younger portrayal.
Films like My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown, and why
The Theory of Everything
shared biographical drama, working-class setting, disability representation, and emotionally intense lead performance
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
shared true-life drama, extraordinary physical limitation, family tension, and triumphant artistic self-expression
Pollock
shared biographical drama, working-class hardship, artistic ambition, and an acclaimed transformative central performance
Children of a Lesser God
shared intimate disability drama, family devotion, social prejudice, and moving character-centered storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Jim Sheridan
- Release Date
- 1989-04-07
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (1065)
Cast
- Daniel Day-Lewis
- Brenda Fricker
- Alison Whelan
- Kirsten Sheridan
- Declan Croghan
- Eanna MacLiam
- Marie Conmee
- Cyril Cusack
- Phelim Drew
- Ruth McCabe
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown about?
- A fiercely gifted Irish artist turns severe physical limitation and social dismissal into a life of writing, painting, and hard-won self-definition.
- What is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown.
- What did critics think of My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a deeply complete and unsentimental portrait of Christy Brown, elevated by Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker's performances.
- Which films are like My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown?
- Films with a similar feel include The Theory of Everything, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Pollock, and Children of a Lesser God.
- How long is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown?
- My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown?
- In United States, My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
