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Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist

Play trailer Poster for Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist 1997 1h 30m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
This documentary chronicles the life and art of Bob Flanagan, who was diagnosed with the disease cystic fibrosis. Director Kirby Dick examines how Flanagan began routinely maiming his own body to deal with and overcome the acute physical pain he felt every day. Flanagan's self-torturing habits are the basis for his avant-garde live performances, which are featured prominently in the film. Dick also explores Flanagan's unusual romance with a dominatrix.
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Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist

Critics Reviews

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Eric Henderson Slant Magazine 09/14/2003
3/4
The title alone of Kirby Dick's alleged documentary Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist practically screams: "This is not your standard biopic!" Go to Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times 02/14/2001
4/5
Flanagan and Rose prove to be an exceptionally creative and intelligent couple who were able to turn their obsessions into art, albeit of a highly specialized kind and involving at times an overwhelmingly brutal exhibitionism. Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
3.5/4
One of the most agonizing films I have ever seen. Go to Full Review Betsy Sherman The Improper Bostonian 08/06/2024
3.5/4
This intense and darkly rollicking documentary portrait of a troubled artist is in the heartwarming tradition of Crumb. Go to Full Review Vadim Rizov Filmmaker Magazine 01/24/2023
A tough-minded profile of a complicated personality. Go to Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault 05/27/2006
A
One of the most unlikely inspirational films ever made. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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03/27/2017 Loved this movie, right around the time "The Jim Rose Circus" was coming through Toronto, I saw this amazing movie of Bob Flanagan living on forever. See more 08/19/2015 This film was beautiful and endearing. See more 03/07/2013 Wowza, I stumbled across this film in the library and didn't really know what to expect. I have a pretty strong stomach so I wasn't really phased by the graphic s&m stuff that would probably cause most people to turn off the dvd kinda fascinated me. One of the most intense movies I've ever seen...the end is so heartbreaking. See more 08/06/2012 By far one of the most disturbing and uplifting movies I have ever seen. Not for the faint of heart however, as the title suggests, there is some very masochistic things taking place in the world, some of which is captured on film in this documentary. For those who love documentaries as much as I do, and can handle seeing things that would make an average person sick, this is a must see. Truly inspiring. See more 06/23/2012 An extremely interesting (if hard to watch) documentary about a man's struggle to survive a battle against a disease that many people claimed that it was lost. Using S&M (not the average kind, but the type of S&M that makes you wonder why the hell anyone would do that) to control his pain, art shows, poetry and humor, Bob Flanagan managed to make a very succesful career that shows how powerful he was, even if the odds were completely against him. You see footage of his acts (Again, this stuff is REALLY hard to watch), his relationship with his wife, parents, brothers, friends and even fans. It's also complemented due to the fantastic direction by Kirby Dick. It's a fascinating experience but it's not for the prudish or squeamish. See more 10/15/2011 One of the hardest to watch films you'll ever see and also one of the best See more Read all reviews
Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist

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Cast & Crew

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Kirby Dick

Director

Kirby Dick

Producer

Jonathan Dayton

Cinematographer

Kirby Dick

Cinematographer

Sheree Rose

Cinematographer

Kirby Dick

Film Editing

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Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist

Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist (1997) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary chronicles the life and art of Bob Flanagan, who was diagnosed with the disease cystic fibrosis. Director Kirby Dick examines how Flanagan began routinely maiming his own body to deal with and overcome the acute physical pain he felt every day. Flanagan's self-torturing habits are the basis for his avant-garde live performances, which are featured prominently in the film. Dick also explores Flanagan's unusual romance with a dominatrix.
Director
Kirby Dick
Producer
Kirby Dick
Production Co
The Norton Family Foundation, Art Matters Inc.
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 19, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$201.3K
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Stereo