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Documentary

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien (1996): Cast

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien (1996) movie poster

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien is a 1996 documentary directed by Jessica Yu, starring Mark O'Brien. It runs 35 minutes.

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Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien (1996) movie poster
Released
Runtime
35 min
Director
Jessica Yu
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
Studio
Inscrutable Films
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien About?

The premise of Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien without spoilers.

Directed by Jessica Yu, this 1996 short documentary follows Berkeley journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, who lived with the constant need for an iron lung after childhood polio. It delves into his spiritual struggle with disability, his writings, and his legacy. O’Brien died in 1999 from post‑polio syndrome. The film won the Oscar for Documentary Short Subject at the 69th Academy Awards.

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien Themes & Keywords

· 30 tags
  • iron lung
  • polio
  • poet
  • journalist
  • writer
  • poem
  • meditation
  • friendship
  • berkeley california
  • disability
  • poetry
  • family relationships
+18 more
  • disabled person
  • book
  • university
  • student
  • solitude
  • reading
  • reader
  • mortality
  • independence
  • gurney
  • desire
  • correspondence
  • alone
  • actress
  • sex therapist
  • journalism
  • independent film
  • character name in title
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Cast & crew

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien Cast

Mark O'Brien stars in Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien. Directed by Jessica Yu.

From the director

More from Jessica Yu

More films directed by Jessica Yu, best-rated first: In the Realms of the Unreal, Protagonist, Last Call at the Oasis and Quiz Lady.

Full filmography

Seen Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien?
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FAQ

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien?

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien runs 35 minutes.

When was Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien released?

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien was released on March 13, 1996.

Who directed Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien?

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien was directed by Jessica Yu.

More films by Jessica Yu

Who is in the cast of Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien?

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien stars Mark O'Brien.

Does Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien have a post-credit scene?

No. Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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