"Breathing Hard" is a charming film that takes a compassionate look at not only aging, but self-worth and friendship. I heard it once described as "Driving Ms. Daisy" in Los Angeles which is true, but that description leaves out out nuances and changes the characters go through as they are touched by the extremely talented June Claman. This is a great movie and definitely worth seeing when you want something with more emotional and intellectual depth than your standard Hollywood fare.
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brittnichols2 October 2000
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pbet123 December 2011Not only great story-telling and the finest acting make this movie totally enjoyable to watch. This is a really unusual, one-of-a-kind and extremely cute Hollywood movie. June Claman should get an Oscar for her performance. Only seldomly, we get to see so much film-making craftsmanship from A-Z in an independent film. Both thumbs up! This little film is the living proof that all the stupid major studio fast-food movies are a waste of silver resources, brain-capacity, time and money. It is wonderful to see that a big budget is not necessarily needed to make a throughout good movie. Imagine, how hilarious and bizarre the entire idea of the crazy Hitler show in the theater is, this is exactly as nuts as the brain-sick Great Dictator was.
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suesuesbeo8 February 2001"There is an old Spanish proverb; 'It is good to have a friend even in Hell". This is quoted in the beginning of this movie, and playing throughout the film is a lovely delicate, Irish flavored piece of music. It is a movie that makes you laugh and think about today's society and how hard it is when your values are more ethereal.
The paradox of being creative and being employed: the dilemma of the thinking artist. John Lee, (Trevor, of Aeon Flux fame) the star of the film, plays Duggan, a playwright, and we watch his struggle to interact with the cold world around him that is so often flimsy of soul which can leave the best of us short of breath.
Duggan, an intelligent, sensitive man, with values out of step with his marriage (wife played by Denise Poirier, who was the voice of Aeon Flux) and his address, Hollywood. Emma, an aging English stage actress, (played by June Claman), and Duggan find their lives intertwined through the necessity of employment. She needs a driver, he needs to pay the rent. It doesn't take long for the cantankerous actress to manage to obtain a role in his play, without his blessing, which she deems a fine work suitable for her talents. As she moves into his world taking over his play, still a fighter of life in her last years, he finds it difficult to cope and turns to sarcastic remarks and sullen behavior.
At this point his marriage dies it's last breath,and he muses, "As ridiculous as it sounds I miss the yelling and the arguing", but the scene you are viewing is one of loving caresses between his best friend Hammond and new girl. The real author of this movie, John Lee, seems to be making his point as to what is really missed when love is over, as one becomes the outsider and observer to love.
Left alone in his world, he turns complete attention to his play. Emma, who entered his life like a hemorrhoid now becomes a friend and peer as they together employ their talents in his play. His life changed forever he takes uncertain steps as he puts the pieces of his life back together, submerged in his work. Friends in the enjoyment of the real craft of the arts, they rise above life's struggle to accomplish a serious work.
It is the story of people, friends and lovers, all living in a complex world that steals from you before giving back. The jokes are honestly funny and the cast is well chosen, and I haven't had such a good time watching a movie in a long time. John Lee's voice is incredible in it's own power to convey emotion and depth. Directed by Eric Neal Young, this movie is perfect in its timing, like a song in which all the notes are correct. I thought this movie was subtle and refreshing.