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IMDbPro

Breathe

  • 2017
  • PG-13
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
26K
YOUR RATING
Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy in Breathe (2017)
The inspiring true love story of Robin and Diana Cavendish, an adventurous couple who refuse to give up in the face of a devastating disease. Their heartwarming celebration of human possibility marks the directorial debut of Andy Serkis.
Play trailer0:31
11 Videos
92 Photos
Medical DramaBiographyDramaRomance

The inspiring true love story of Robin and Diana Cavendish, an adventurous couple who refuse to give up in the face of a devastating disease.The inspiring true love story of Robin and Diana Cavendish, an adventurous couple who refuse to give up in the face of a devastating disease.The inspiring true love story of Robin and Diana Cavendish, an adventurous couple who refuse to give up in the face of a devastating disease.

  • Director
    • Andy Serkis
  • Writer
    • William Nicholson
  • Stars
    • Andrew Garfield
    • Claire Foy
    • Hugh Bonneville
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    26K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Andy Serkis
    • Writer
      • William Nicholson
    • Stars
      • Andrew Garfield
      • Claire Foy
      • Hugh Bonneville
    • 106User reviews
    • 146Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos11

    Now Playing
    Trailer 0:31
    Now Playing
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:51
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:51
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:39
    Official Trailer
    Breathe
    Trailer 2:34
    Breathe
    BREATHE U.S. Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:41
    BREATHE U.S. Theatrical Trailer
    Breathe: What Are We Waiting For
    Clip 1:11
    Breathe: What Are We Waiting For

    Photos92

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    + 86
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    Top cast62

    Edit
    Andrew Garfield
    Andrew Garfield
    • Robin Cavendish
    Claire Foy
    Claire Foy
    • Diana Cavendish
    Hugh Bonneville
    Hugh Bonneville
    • Teddy Hall
    Ed Speleers
    Ed Speleers
    • Colin Campbell
    • (as Edward Speleers)
    Tom Hollander
    Tom Hollander
    • Bloggs Blacker…
    David Butler
    • Estate Manager
    Ben Lloyd-Hughes
    Ben Lloyd-Hughes
    • Dr Don McQueen
    Miranda Raison
    Miranda Raison
    • Mary Dawney
    Camilla Rutherford
    Camilla Rutherford
    • Katherine Robertson
    Andre Jacobs
    Andre Jacobs
    • Governor
    Terry Norton
    Terry Norton
    • Governor's Wife
    Charles Streeter
    Charles Streeter
    • RAF Lyneham Medic
    Penny Downie
    Penny Downie
    • Tid
    Amit Shah
    Amit Shah
    • Dr Khan
    Jonathan Hyde
    Jonathan Hyde
    • Dr Entwistle
    Emily Bevan
    Emily Bevan
    • Nurse Margaret
    Roger Ashton-Griffiths
    Roger Ashton-Griffiths
    • Hospital Chaplain
    David Wilmot
    David Wilmot
    • Paddy
    • Director
      • Andy Serkis
    • Writer
      • William Nicholson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews106

    7.226.1K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    9Padreviews

    Oscar winning material 9/10

    Not perfect but pretty damn close to perfection .

    I've said it before the best films are based on real events . Andy Garfield deserves the best actor Oscar . This one will make you laugh , cry and smile .

    One man's fight for survival against the odds with the loving support of his wife and son who incidentally produced the film .

    Excellent casting , acting and directing by Serkis . Beautiful photography a film that ought to be depressing was actually somewhat uplifting and you'll want to see it again and look up the real story .

    A British cinematic masterpiece worthy of an Oscar nomination.

    Pad.A 9/10
    rogerdarlington

    Well-made and life-affirming

    Breathing is the most natural thing on earth, right? But when British tea broker Robin Cavendish contracted polio in Kenya in 1958, he found that he was paralysed from the neck down and could not breathe without the constant support of a mechanical ventilator. This true story is told with Andrew Garfield as Robin and Claire Foy as his wife Diana, both of whom give fine performances of nuanced emotion.

    Inevitably the film will be compared with "The Theory Of Everything" but it is no bad thing to be reminded that people with disabilities can achieve remarkable things. In Stephen Hawking's case, he was still able to make great contributions to theoretical physics; in the instance of Robin Cavendish, he transformed the treatment of those with paralysis, both in the UK and much wider.

    For first time director Andy Serkis, this is clearly a very personal project. His professional partner and producer on the film is Jonathan Cavendish, the son of Robin and Diana, while Serkis's sister has multiple sclerosis. Serkis is known for his acclaimed acting in performance-capture roles, but the only major use of special effects here is to enable Tom Hollander to represent both of Diana's identical twin brothers.

    At the end especially, the heart strings are well and truly plucked, but it is gratifying to see such a well-made and life-affirming work on our screens.
    8nancyldraper

    A truly remarkable story, well scripted and performed

    A truly remarkable story, well scripted and performed, is based on the life of Robin and Diana Cavendish and produced by their son, Jonathan. Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield lead a great supporting cast. Great themes about life, death, love, faithfulness, the courage it takes to live and the tenacity of love that pushes the boundaries of courage and creativity. I heartily recommend it to you. I give this film an 8 (great) out of 10. {Drama}
    8phd_travel

    Wish they made more spouses like that more often

    This is a beautifully filmed movie. It's inspiring to watch the devotion of the wife in supporting her husband struck down with polio at age 28. His subsequent efforts to live outside the hospital and advances in a wheelchair with a ventilator attached are quite illuminating. Especially with what happened to Christopher Reeve it is still relevant today. This movie doesn't focus too much on the awful side which is good or it would be too depressing.

    The leads are watchable. Claire Foy QE2 of the Crown speaks and acts a lot like she does as Queen Elizabeth. Andrew Garfield isn't one to shy away from difficult roles. Here he speaks with his British accent.

    It's a good thing to be reminded about Polio amidst the recent debate whether or no to vaccinate.
    lcalee

    A Wonderful Love Story with wonderful performances

    I truly enjoyed this film that I saw at TIFF. Apparently a lot of critics were expecting something grittier from Andy Serkis. Jonathan and Diana Cavendish are 100% behind this film and I DO believe that what is shown is true. Perhaps some critics wanted more darkness, but I do believe with these peoples' zest for life, they didn't allow much darkness to cloud their love and triumph.

    I believe that Robin, Diana, and Jonathan enjoyed their time together as much as humanly possible. It is a love letter, a tale of triumph over adversity, and most of all it is a wonderful love story. Sometimes there IS more light than darkness. Especially when you have talent like Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy. Both are excellent in their roles, allowing me to completely immerse myself in this uplifting story.

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    Related interests

    Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo in Grey's Anatomy (2005)
    Medical Drama
    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Andrew Garfield stayed in character in between takes. Claire Foy would even scratch his itches.
    • Goofs
      They have a scene of them driving down the road in the van that shows the date 1965 and the song in the background is of Lee Marvin singing "I was born under a Wandering Star". That song came out with the movie Paint My Wagon in 1969 four years later.
    • Quotes

      Robin Cavendish: Let me ask you, when you look at me, what is it that you see? Do you see a creature that's barely alive? Or do you see a man that's escaped the confines of the hospital wards? Now, I have a machine under this very seat, and it breathes for me. And at home, I have a ventilator by my bed. I also have a remarkable group of friends. And most vitally I have my wife. But, as you see, I can do nothing for myself. And yet here I am. When I first became paralysed, I wanted to die. Yeah, I wanted to die, I did. But my wife wouldn't let me. She told me I had to live. To see our son grow up. So I went on living... because she told me to. Because of her, really. And with her. And for her. And every day since then, I've accepted the risk of dying because I don't want to just survive. I want to truly live. So, I implore you, you go back to your hospitals and you tell your disabled patients that they too can truly live. You all have this power to open the gates and set them free.

    • Crazy credits
      The movie starts, even before the production company credits, with the message: "What follows is true..."
    • Connections
      Featured in Projector: Breathe (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      True Love
      Written by Cole Porter

      Performed by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly from High Society (1956)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 27, 2017 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Switzerland
    • Official sites
      • Official Site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Una Razón Para Vivir
    • Filming locations
      • Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • BBC Film
      • British Film Institute (BFI)
      • Embankment Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $490,131
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $22,285
      • Oct 15, 2017
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,130,787
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 58m(118 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.76 : 1

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