Educational Media Reviews Online

Mark O'Brien, a victim of the polio virus including its later manifestation as post-polio syndrome, narrates this genuine look into the world of a disabled human being. Unable to leave the archaic-looking iron lung for more than a few hours a month, Mark chronicles his life with honesty, and insight. He relates memories of his able-bodied childhood, including contracting the polio virus, and describes how he feels to be disabled. The dialog seems very private when he tells of his college experiences, his friends, and his caregivers. This superb program illustrates the desire of every human being to control his or her own life. Mark's distaste for nursing homes and his anxiety at being lifted when it's time to leave his iron lung, touch that basic chord of independence in all of us. It brings out a basic theme we hear every day, but often disregard, to accept people for who they are, not what they look like or what they can or cannot do. While Mark emphasizes he's only human, his strength and spirit pervade the story, particularly when he states that "God created a universe of co-creators."

Filmmaker Jessica Yu weaves together shots of Mark in his iron lung through the years, his surroundings, and old family photos. Her threads are the words of O'Brien reading from his poems and just speaking his thoughts. All to the accompaniment of the iron lung's mechanical breathing. The range of human emotion is portrayed with such integrity it does not allow a hint of mawkishness. Breathing Lessons is funny, poignant, sincere and powerful. Aimed at a general adult audience, this Oscar-winner deserves a place in college and university collections as well as larger public libraries.