Breathe

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2:34

Breathe

PG-13

2017

1h 57m

Biography

History

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

166 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

After contracting polio at the age of 28, Robin Cavendish is confined to a bed and given only months to live. With help from his wife Diana and her twin brothers, and the groundbreaking ideas of inventor Teddy Hall, Cavendish emerges from the hospital ward and devotes the rest of his life to helping fellow patients and the disabled.

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Critics Consensus

Strong performances from Breathe's well-matched leads help add an edge to a biopic that takes a decidedly heartwarming approach to its real-life story.

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

12/29/2017

3.5/5

It's an eerily skilful performance by Garfield, making it easy to imagine that he really is trying to master the art of speech by regulating his flow of available air.

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David Stratton

The Australian

12/29/2017

3.5/5

Robin's story is certainly a tale of near-triumph over adversity, and the director manages to keep cheap sentimentality at bay. In many ways this is a very English story about intestinal fortitude and the stiff upper lip.

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Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

12/20/2017

3/5

The producer of Breathe, Jonathan Cavendish, is the son of the incredible couple whose story is immortalised in the movie, giving it a weighty, personal connection that transcends some empty exercise in virtue.

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Paul Emmanuel Enicola

Movie-Blogger.com

07/31/2024

3.5/5

A moving film that examines the effects of a debilitating illness to the afflicted and their families, as well as the physical and emotional strains that come with it.

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Tori Brazier

Flickering Myth

03/25/2021

4/5

Breathe will bring a lump to the throat with its passionate but un-showy telling of two individuals who sought to change the status quo.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

03/01/2021

3/5

Breathe doesn't have the gravitas of The Theory of Everything - it spends too much time trying to wring all the emotion out of the story like tears from a sponge - but it does have compassion and heart.

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Karen O

@RT73914827 11/19/2024

I don't see how this movie didn't get a higher rating. Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy did an amazing job.

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Leah K

@Leahpr203 08/23/2024

How does this movie not have a higher rating?!? The acting is fantastic, the story is amazing along with the message. And it's a true story!! I watched this years ago and still think about it. It's a total tearjerker.

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Lorena S

@RT94853741 04/09/2023

Very emotional. Liked the story and movie

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isla s

@RT89656869 09/01/2022

I thought this was a brilliant film - a sad story, hard to watch in parts but ultimately a story of humanity, of hope in disability and, perhaps slightly more cheesily, a story of love and family. Its an interesting and in some ways uplifting story and the performances were really good, especially Andrew Garfield, Tom Hollander and Stephen Mangan. Its based on a true story and this made the film all the more interesting to me. I found it intriguing and I respect the Cavendish family for how they coped with what they faced. It made me wonder about the future in terms of technical abilities to help the severley disabled. This is a film definitely worth seeing - the story seemed well handled, its a thought provoking watch with some great performances, so I recommend it.

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Chris A

@RT65314598 01/11/2022

Loved every minute of it. Emotional, yet sprinkled with humor is what made this stand out from other movies based on real life people with disabilities. Andrew Garfield is amazing even with limited body movement, his performance manages to reach the audience immensely. Claire Foy's performance feels noteworthy as well. Andy Serkis does a great job in one of the best directorial debuts I've seen.

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07/01/2021

Amazing and heart-warming true story of Robin Cavendish and the life he was able to live after being struck down in his youth with polio. Great to see the boundaries he broke in the process which has helped a multitude of patients today with polio.

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Andy Serkis

Director

Andrew Garfield

Robin Cavendish

Claire Foy

Diana Cavendish

Tom Hollander

Bloggs Blacker & David Blacker

Stephen Mangan

Dr. Clement Aitken

Hugh Bonneville

Teddy Hall

Mary Shelley

40%

48%

Mary Shelley

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A United Kingdom

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Breathe: Trailer 2

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Breathe: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After contracting polio at the age of 28, Robin Cavendish is confined to a bed and given only months to live. With help from his wife Diana and her twin brothers, and the groundbreaking ideas of inventor Teddy Hall, Cavendish emerges from the hospital ward and devotes the rest of his life to helping fellow patients and the disabled.

Director: Andy Serkis
Producer: Jonathan Cavendish
Screenwriter: William Nicholson
Distributor: Bleecker Street Media
Production Co: BBC Film, Silver Reel, Imaginarium Productions, Embankment Films, British Film Institute (BFI)
Rating: PG-13 (Some Bloody Medical Images|Mature Thematic Material)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 13, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 2, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $489.4K
Runtime: 1h 57m

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