10s Movie Review - Breathe

Director: Andy Serkis
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Tom Hollander, Hugh Bonneville

Description: The true story of Robin (Andrew Garfield) and Diana Cavendish (Claire Foy), an adventurous couple who refuse to give up in the face of a devastating disease.

Review: “Breathe” is about British Robin and Diana Cavendish, who fell in love in the 1950s, got married and built a new life in Kenya. Robin worked as a tea importer and they were looking at a bright future together. Especially when Diana became pregnant. But then fate struck. Robin gets polio and becomes paralyzed from the neck down. Robin has no will to live at all, now he sees he can’t do anything anymore. But due to Diana’s determination, Robin keeps fighting.
Diana never gives up on Robin and, against doctor’s advice, makes sure that Robin can return to England. Diana decides to take care of Robin herself, in their new home. And thanks to a befriended professor, Robin can improve the quality of his life with a designed wheelchair with a built-in respirator.
It’s an inspiring story and I love the couple. Of course, it’s all a bit romanticized and there aren’t many big surprises. The story is told with great respect and a lot of humor as well. Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy work well, together and apart.
Even though the theme of the film is rather depressing, the movie is mostly cheerful. And although “Breathe” is not a ground-breaking film, it’s still worth watching: because of the great cast and because it’s an inspiring story.

Rating: 3,5/ 5