What Is The Sessions About?
The premise of The Sessions in 284 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the heart of 1988 Berkeley, a city buzzing with activism and artistic vigor, lives a man whose world is confined to the quiet hiss of an iron lung. Mark O’Brien, a thoughtful journalist and poet, has spent his adult life behind the mechanical apparatus that keeps him alive after childhood polio. The walls of his apartment become the borders of a larger, unseen landscape—a place where language, imagination, and yearning collide. Though his body is restrained, his mind drifts through the same streets, cafés, and lecture halls that pulse with ideas about freedom, love, and the human body.
The film settles into a tone that is both tender and unflinching, inviting the audience to sit beside Mark as he confronts a question that has lingered in his consciousness for years: what does it mean to be physically intimate when the body itself feels like a prison? Seeking guidance, he turns to his priest, Father Brendan, whose quiet counsel opens the door to an unconventional path. This leads him to Cheryl, a professional sex surrogate whose presence introduces a new kind of dialogue—one that blends clinical expertise with genuine compassion, challenging the boundaries between mentorship, friendship, and desire.
As the story unfolds, the atmosphere is charged with a subtle blend of vulnerability and quiet humor. The interactions between Mark, Cheryl, and the small community that orbits his life reveal a mosaic of perspectives on love, autonomy, and the courage required to ask for help. The film gently explores the contrast between the stark mechanical rhythm of the iron lung and the soft, unpredictable cadence of human connection, inviting viewers to wonder how far a spirit can travel when the body is anchored in place.
What Happens in The Sessions?
The complete story of The Sessions, from the first scene to the last, in 277 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In Berkeley, California, in 1988, Mark O’Brien is a 38-year-old poet confined to an iron lung after polio leaves him unable to breathe on his own, and he has never experienced sex. After a failed proposal to his caretaker Amanda, he decides he wants to lose his virginity and seeks guidance from his priest, Father Brendan. He then contacts Cheryl Cohen-Greene, a professional sex surrogate who agrees to a limited six-session arrangement.
What begins as a clinical encounter gradually deepens into something more intimate and genuine. As the sessions unfold, the two develop a caring connection, and the line between professional and personal begins to blur. Cheryl’s husband, who loves her deeply, struggles with jealousy and initially keeps a love poem Mark mailed to Cheryl from her, a gesture she ultimately discovers. The evolving feelings between them lead to a moment of mutual vulnerability and shared longing.
The relationship reaches a turning point without denying its complexities. After several efforts, Mark and Cheryl experience mutually satisfying intimacy, yet they decide to end the sessions because their emotions have grown beyond the boundaries of a surrogate arrangement.
A medical crisis shifts the story toward resilience and memory. One day, a power outage in Mark’s building disables the iron lung, forcing him to be rushed to the hospital. He survives and later meets a young woman named Susan Fernbach. The narrative then shifts forward to Mark’s funeral, held sometime in 1999, with four of the women he came to know in attendance, including Cheryl. Father Brendan delivers the homily, and Susan reads the poem Mark had previously sent Cheryl, bringing the story full circle with a quiet, reflective farewell.
The Sessions Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Mark O'Brien's life in the iron lung and decision to pursue sex” to “Mark's funeral in 1999”. 12 events name a place, across 3 locations.
- 1
Mark O'Brien's life in the iron lung and decision to pursue sex
In Berkeley, California, in 1988, Mark O'Brien, a 38-year-old poet, lives in an iron lung due to polio. Realizing that he may never have sex, he resolves to lose his virginity before it's too late. He decides to seek help to achieve intimacy within the constraints of his condition.
When:1988 Where:Berkeley, California
- 2
Mark's proposal to Amanda is rejected
Mark proposes to his caretaker Amanda, hoping for a relationship, but she declines. The rejection makes him realize that romance within his situation will be difficult. This pushes him to consider professional help to achieve intimacy.
When:1988 Where:Berkeley, California
- 3
Advice from Father Brendan guides the path forward
Seeking guidance, Mark speaks with Father Brendan, his priest, who offers compassionate support for his plan to pursue sex. The priest helps him think about desire, ethics, and mortality in a humane way. This conversation sets a respectful tone for what follows.
When:1988 Where:Father Brendan's office, Berkeley
- 4
Cheryl Cohen-Greene becomes Mark's sex surrogate
Mark is connected with Cheryl Cohen-Greene, a professional sex surrogate. They discuss a framework of up to six sessions to explore intimacy safely. Cheryl explains boundaries and the therapeutic goals of their arrangement.
When:1988 Where:Berkeley, California
- 5
Six-session plan begins and boundaries are set
Sessions begin with clear boundaries and the practical realities of the iron lung. Mark and Cheryl start to form a rapport despite the clinical setup. The dynamic gradually shifts from strictly clinical to more personal as trust grows.
When:1988 Where:Berkeley, California
- 6
Cheryl's husband jealousy and the love poem
Cheryl's husband, who cares for her, becomes jealous and protective. He withholds a poem Mark had mailed Cheryl, signaling the strain in their personal lives. The tension foreshadows the emotional complexity of their evolving relationship.
When:1988 Where:Cheryl's home
- 7
Romantic feelings deepen during sessions
As the sessions continue, Mark and Cheryl realize they feel more than professional affection for each other. Their conversations become more personal, and trust deepens beyond formal boundaries. The surrogate-client relationship starts to blur in meaningful ways.
When:1988 Where:Berkeley, California
- 8
The couple share a sexual encounter and bond tightens
Mark and Cheryl share a sexual encounter that marks a significant shift in their relationship. The moment is framed as mutual and non-graphic, but it deepens their emotional connection. Their growing bond complicates the professional dynamic.
When:1989 Where:Berkeley, California
- 9
They end the sessions to avoid predicaments
Despite progress, they choose to end the sessions early because their feelings have become too strong to keep professional. They agree that continuing could blur boundaries and harm all involved. The decision marks a difficult but clear boundary in their relationship.
When:1989 Where:Berkeley, California
- 10
A power outage cripples the iron lung
A power outage in Mark's building causes the iron lung to fail, leaving him unable to breathe independently. He is rushed to the hospital in a life-threatening moment. The incident forces a confrontation with his mortality and prompts a medical crisis.
When:1989 Where:Berkeley, California
- 11
Mark survives and meets Susan Fernbach
Mark survives the hospital crisis and encounters a young woman named Susan Fernbach. This meeting introduces another important relationship in his life following the surrogate experience. Susan's presence adds a new dynamic to his story.
When:1989 Where:Berkeley, California
- 12
Mark's funeral in 1999
The film jumps forward to Mark's funeral, held in 1999, attended by four of the women he came to know, including Cheryl. Father Brendan delivers the homily, and Susan reads the poem Mark had previously sent Cheryl. The gathering marks the end of his life story and the memory of his experiences.
When:1999 Where:Berkeley, California
Who Are the Main Characters in The Sessions?
3 characters, among them Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes), Cheryl Cohen-Greene (Helen Hunt) and Father Brendan (William H. Macy): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes)
Played by John Hawkes
A 38-year-old poet living in Berkeley who is confined to an iron lung due to polio. He seeks to experience intimacy for the first time, displaying curiosity, vulnerability, and determined optimism. His intellectual sensibility and humor help him navigate a world restricted by his disability.
- ♿️ Disability
- 💞 Romance
- 🧠 Poet
- 💬 Communication
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Cheryl Cohen-Greene (Helen Hunt)
Played by Helen Hunt
A professional sex surrogate who helps Mark explore intimacy within a framework of consent and care. Their sessions gradually awaken bottled feelings, complicating professional boundaries. She faces jealousy from her husband and must balance duty with affection.
- 💞 Romance
- 🧑⚕️ Professional surrogate
- 🔒 Boundaries
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Father Brendan (William H. Macy)
Played by William H. Macy
A Catholic priest who counsels Mark and provides a moral lens on desire, vulnerability, and healing. He participates in the broader ethical context of care and echoes themes of forgiveness as the story progresses.
- 🙏 Faith
- 🕊️ Morality
- 🗨️ Guidance
Where and When Is The Sessions Set?
The Sessions is set in Berkeley and California (1988). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1988
The main events unfold in 1988, a late-80s context where Mark seeks to reclaim intimacy despite his polio-induced dependence on an iron lung. The story traces his sessions with a sex surrogate and the emotional consequences that arise, leading up to an eventual funeral in 1999. The historical setting influences attitudes toward sexuality, disability, and caregiving.
Where
Berkeley, California
Set in Berkeley in 1988, the film follows Mark O'Brien as he lives in an iron lung in a city known for its university culture and activist history. The setting centers on Mark's apartment building and local environs where his relationships and daily life unfold. Berkeley serves as a backdrop for the themes of independence, intellectual life, and personal longing that drive the story.
- 🏙️ Urban setting
- 🎓 University town
What Are the Themes of The Sessions?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love & Longing, Disability & Independence and Faith & Ethics.
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01
Love & Longing
Mark's desire to lose his virginity drives the plot, pushing him to explore intimacy beyond his physical constraint. The relationship with Cheryl evolves from professional to romantic, testing boundaries and consent. The film examines how genuine connection grows under extraordinary circumstances and the costs of pursuing mutual feelings.
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02
Disability & Independence
Mark's polio and dependence on an iron lung shape his experiences of desire, vulnerability, and agency. The surrogate arrangement empowers him to pursue intimacy while highlighting the limits and resilience of his body. The narrative explores how disability can intersect with personal autonomy and dignity.
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03
Faith & Ethics
Father Brendan's guidance and Cheryl's role raise questions about boundaries, consent, and professional ethics in intimate care. The story contrasts religious morality with personal longing, forcing characters to navigate guilt, duty, and compassion. The resolution emphasizes care, forgiveness, and the complexity of human relationships.
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04
Mortality & Memory
Mark's life culminates in his funeral in 1999, a moment that frames the story as a meditation on mortality and memory. The poem he sent Cheryl recurs in the service, underscoring the lasting impact of his emotional connections. The film reflects on how relationships, even fleeting, shape a person's legacy.
What Kind of Film Is The Sessions?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
An intimate and tender character study that explores vulnerability and self-discovery with a steady, reflective pace, balancing melancholic themes of mortality with a hopeful and ultimately affirming tone.
- intimate
- reflective
- vulnerable
- hopeful
- tender
- melancholic
- disability and intimacy
- sexual awakening
- self-discovery
- poetry and art
Content notes: depiction of disability, life-threatening illness.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Sessions? Test yourself on the story.
