His novels and poetry become best sellers. But his versatile foot also becomes an instrument of precision when he learns to write, type and even paint with it. Disabled from birth by cerebral palsy, Christy transcends the prison of his non-functioning body when he learns to wield his left foot as an instrument of strength, to score winning soccer kicks in street games with his brothers and their pals, and to push open blocked doors for his mother when she needs his help. As with GABY, Christy Brown’s left foot is the only part of his body over which he can exercise any significant control.Ĭhristy Brown who died in 1981, at the age of 49, was, as this wonderfully entertain, rich, warm, funny movie, based on the autobiography he tapped out on a standard typewriter with his left foot, makes clear, a multi-talented, highly intelligent, complex personality.ĭirector, Jim Sheridan, who also co-authored the screenplay with Shane Connaughhton, tells Christy’s story in flashbacks. And like Gaby, its hero, Christy Brown, played by Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis, also suffers from cerebral palsy. Like the movie GABY, THE TRUE STORY of Gabriela Brimmer, reviewed in the Fall 1988 issue of ABILITIES, MY LEFT FOOT is also a true story.

It is the left foot of the profoundly handicapped Irish author and painter, Christy Brown. As the opening credits roll on Director Jim Sheridan’s film, MY LEFT FOOT, someone is attempting with mystifying awkwardness to work a record player Graudually the scene opens up to reveal not a clumsy hand, trying so painfully, frustratingly to select a record, slip it from its cover, place it on the turntable and drop the needle upon it, but a foot.

Christy brown my left foot movie