Neil Platt is quite a character. A brave, funny guy who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease at the age of 33, a disease that he’d already seen claim his father, he made up his mind to first blog about his condition – plattitude.co.uk, do check it out online – and then reach as many people as possible to raise awareness about MND. He WILL die, and he will die in a fairly short space of time, but not before the disease removes control of his body parts in increments. This documentary, directed by Emma Davie and Morag McKinnon, mixes in footage of Neil in the latter stages of degenerating health with family films that show how happy and healthy and carefree he used to be. Neil is, as the documentary begins, already left with little more than the ability to speak and swallow. His wife, Louise, helps to make him comfortable and also looks after their very young son, Oscar, while he enjoys what little time he has left and works on that aforementioned blog.
Bleak subject matter indeed, you’d be forgiven for wanting to give I Am Breathing a miss because of thinking it might spoil your whole day, but give a thought for the poor man at the centre of this documentary with no choice in the matter. Even if you’re aware of Motor Neurone Disease, this will serve as an eye-opening reminder of how horrible it is and how much effort should be put in to researching for a cure to it.
It’s also not quite as bleak as you might think. There are heart-wrenching moments here and there, of course, but the dark subject matter is alleviated by moments of humour (try not to laugh as Neil relates his experience of cancelling a telephone contract before his death) and also the genuine good nature of everyone involved. Neil is determined to show what the disease does, at one point asking for the camera to be pointed back at him during one of his worst moments, but he’s equally determined to do the best that he can by his wife and son. The latter may not (mercifully?) fully grasp the situation, but Louise is put through the wringer as she cares for the man she loves. Although it’s hard to imagine how she continues to keep her strength and keep going, when asked that question by the film crew she replies that she’s just so proud of her husband and his example motivates her to go alongside him.
It feels horrible to criticise this documentary, as if I am putting the disease to one side while objectively looking at editing and sound work and all the other technical aspects, but I’ll try to cover my general opinion while also not actually forgetting that the disease and how it affects Neil is the main reason for the whole thing. This was a worthwhile watch, and I’m certainly glad that I got to meet Neil Platt and his family, but it felt as if there was something missing. I wanted a bit more information on the disease, maybe a few statistics and some more information about treatments and costs. I wanted a bit more insight into the true friends that Neil had and how they acclimatised to his condition as it progressed.
There are many cases in which a movie is successful if it leaves you wanting more. I don’t think that’s the case here. I Am Breathing is moving and inspiring, but I wanted even more from it. Perhaps that says more about me than the documentary itself. Despite it not being a complete success, it deserves some of your time. Even though, as Neil often reminds viewers, time is so damn precious.
DIRECTOR: EMMA DAVIE, MORAG MCKINNON
STARS: NEIL PLATT
RUNTIME: 73 MINS APPROX
COUNTRY: UK/DENMARK
Film Rating: 
