Oliver Sacks: His Own Life

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRic Burns
Based onHis Own Life
by Oliver Sacks
Produced by
  • Bonnie Lafave
  • Kathryn Clinard
  • Leigh Howell
Starring
CinematographyBuddy Squires
Music byBrian Keane
Production
company
Release date
  • 13 August 2019 (2019-08-13) (Telluride)
Running time
111 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life is a 2019 American biographical documentary film directed and created by Ric Burns about Oliver Sacks, a British neurologist and science historian, based on his autobiography, His Own Life.[1] Produced by Zeitgeist Films, the film contains extensive interviews with Sacks and features commentary from friends and colleagues such as his publisher Roberto Calasso, his editor Kate Edgar, writer and doctor Atul Gawande and artist Shane Fistell.[2] Sacks discusses his professional life and his personal difficulties such as substance abuse and internalized homophobia.[3] The book, titled On the Move: A Life, was published six to seven months before his end-stage terminal cancer was diagnosed.[4]

The film initially premiered in 2019 at the Telluride Film Festival, and had its general release on September 23, 2020,[5] having been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

  1. ^ Farber, Stephen (2019-09-10). "'Oliver Sacks: His Own Life': Film Review - Telluride 2019". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  2. ^ Kenny, Glenn (September 23, 2020). "'Oliver Sacks: His Own Life' Review: All Was Not Well With the Doctor". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ^ Katz, Leslie. "Awakenings and amphetamines: In moving documentary, legendary neurologist Oliver Sacks goes inside his own mind". CNET.
  4. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (October 2, 2019). "New York Film Review: 'Oliver Sacks: His Own Life'".
  5. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (July 22, 2020). "'Oliver Sacks: His Own Life' Trailer: The Legendary Thinker Gets the Documentary Treatment".
  6. ^ Tenorio, Rich. "With months to live, neurologist Oliver Sacks gave a master class on how to die". www.timesofisrael.com.