Oliver Sacks: His Own Life
Directed by Ric Burns
A month after receiving a fatal diagnosis in January 2015, Oliver Sacks sat down for a series of filmed interviews in his apartment in New York City. For eighty hours, surrounded by family, friends, and notebooks from six decades of thinking and writing about the brain, he talked about his life and work, his abiding sense of wonder at the natural world, and the place of human beings within it. Drawing on these deeply personal reflections, as well as nearly two dozen interviews with close friends, family members, colleagues and patients, and archival material from every point in his life, this film is the story of a beloved doctor and writer who redefined our understanding of the brain and mind.
Reviews More Reviews
"A PORTRAIT AT ONCE TENDER AND THRILLING, a movie that presents us with a man who led an eccentrically defiant, at times reckless existence that was the furthest thing from cunningly planned. He was a wanderer in the body of a clinician, like Jack Kerouac crossed with Jonas Salk. He was that rare if not unique thing, a scientific navigator of the soul."
“One of the surprising and moving lessons of this revealing film is how often the most gifted people are unappreciated. Late in life, Sacks earned many honorary degrees and awards from the medical establishment, but he spent a far longer period of his life as an outsider and often miserably unhappy, even suicidal man. Perhaps his own torments helped to create the sympathy for society’s outsiders that led to his brilliant discoveries. At least that is the most provocative insight contained in this THOUGHTFUL, DEEPLY AFFECTING film.”
Press & Exhibitors
Below please find additional information and promotional materials for this film. Use the buttons on the left to request to book this film for theatrical or educational/community screenings.
For all press requests, please contact us at [email protected].
Technical Info
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Color: Color
Press & Promotion:
playdates
Venue | City | State | Date |
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a/perture cinema | Winston Salem | NC | 1605243600November 13, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
ACME Screening Room | Lambertville | NJ | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Acoustic Java | Providence | RI | 1620014400May 3 - September 10, 2021 |
Ambler Theater | Ambler | PA | 1601524800October 1, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Art House Billings | Billings | MT | 1603684800October 26, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
Athena Cinema | Athens | OH | 1603252800October 21, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Athens Ciné | Athens | GA | 1603166400October 20, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
Bedford Playhouse | Bedford | NY | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) | Berkeley | CA | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Bozeman Film Society | Bozeman | MT | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Bryn Mawr Film Institute | Bryn Mawr | PA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Campus Theatre | Lewisburg | PA | 1601611200October 2, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Cape Ann Community Cinema | Gloucester | MA | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Carolina Theatre | Durham | NC | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Center For Contemporary Arts | Santa Fe | NM | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Cinema 320 | Worcester | MA | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Cinema Arts Centre | Huntington | NY | 1602043200October 7, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Cinema Arts Theatre | Fairfax | VA | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - May 3, 2021 |
Cinema Falls | Sioux Falls | SD | 1601524800October 1, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Cinema Society | San Diego | CA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Cinestudio | Hartford | CT | 1601611200October 2, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
City Lights Cinemas | Florence | OR | 1605675600November 18, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
Cleveland Cinematheque | Cleveland | OH | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Colonial Theatre | Keene | NH | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Colonial Theatre | Phoenixville | PA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Coral Gables Art Cinema | Coral Gables | FL | 1601006400September 25 - November 30, 2020 |
County Theater | Doylestown | PA | 1601524800October 1, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Crandell Theatre | Chatham | NY | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Crystal Theatre | Carbondale | CO | 1602475200October 12, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Darkside Cinema | Corvallis | OR | 1600660800September 21, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Detroit Institute of Arts | Detroit | MI | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Digital Gym Cinema | San Diego | CA | 1602043200October 7, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Downing Film Center | Newburgh | NY | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Drexel Theatre | Columbus | OH | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Enzian Theatre | Maitland | FL | 1603425600October 23, 2020 - February 9, 2021 |
Film Forum | New York | NY | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 17, 2021 |
Film Society of Summit | Summit | NJ | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Fine Arts Theatres | Overland Park | KS | 1600660800September 21, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Flicks Theatre | Boise | ID | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival | Fort Lauderdale | FL | 1602561600October 13, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Frontier Cafe | Brunswick | ME | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - March 16, 2021 |
Gold Coast Film | Great Neck | NY | 1606798800December 1, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
Goldtown Nickelodeon Theater | Juneau | AK | 1606453200November 27, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
Gorton Center | Lake Forest | IL | 1604984400November 10, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
Grand Cinema | Tacoma | WA | 1601611200October 2, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Guild Cinema | Albuquerque | NM | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Hayesville Opera House | Hayesville | OH | 1602043200October 7, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Hiway Theater | Jenkintown | PA | 1601524800October 1, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Images Cinema | Williamstown | MA | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Indian Lake Theater | Indian Lake | NY | 1602561600October 13, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
International Film Series | Boulder | CO | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Jacob Burns Film Center | Pleasantville | NY | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Kan-Kan Cinema | Indianapolis | IN | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Laemmle Theatres | Los Angeles | CA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
LeFont Film Society | Atlanta | GA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Liberty Theatre | Camas | WA | 1601956800October 6, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Lincoln Theatre | Mount Vernon | WA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Lyric Theatre | Blacksburg | VA | 1601956800October 6, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Martha's Vineyard Film Society | Vineyard Haven | MA | 1597723200August 18, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
Mary D. Fisher Theatre | Sedona | AZ | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Michigan Theater | Ann Arbor | MI | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Midtown Cinema | Harrisburg | PA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
MSP Film Society | Minneapolis | MN | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | Houston | TX | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Museum of the Moving Image | Astoria | NY | 1602043200October 7, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Music Box Theatre | Chicago | IL | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Naro Expanded Cinema | Norfolk | VA | 1603857600October 28, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
New Plaza Cinema | New York | NY | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
North Park Theatre | Buffalo | NY | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
O Cinema | Miami Beach | FL | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Oklahoma City Museum of Art | Oklahoma City | OK | 1601611200October 2, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Onyx Theatre | Nevada City | CA | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Oxnard Film Society | Oxnard | CA | 1604984400November 10, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
Pageant Theatre | Chico | CA | 1605070800November 11, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
Park City Film | Park City | UT | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Philadelphia Film Society | Philadelphia | PA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Pickford Film Center | Bellingham | WA | 1602216000October 9, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center | Patchogue | NY | 1601611200October 2, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Port Jefferson Documentary Series | Port Jefferson Station | NY | 1601352000September 29, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Portland Museum of Art | Portland | ME | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Princeton Garden Theatre | Princeton | NJ | 1601524800October 1, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Real Art Ways | Hartford | CT | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Red River Theatres | Concord | NH | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
ReelAbilities Film Festival | New York | NY | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts | Jamestown | NY | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Rialto Cinemas Cerrito | El Cerrito | CA | 1602043200October 7, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Rialto Cinemas Elmwood | Berkeley | CA | 1602043200October 7, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol | Sebastopol | CA | 1601956800October 6, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Rose Theatre | Port Townsend | WA | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Roxie Theater | San Francisco | CA | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Salem Cinema | Salem | OR | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Salina Art Center | Salina | KS | 1606798800December 1, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
SIFF Film Center | Seattle | WA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Smith Rafael Film Center | San Rafael | CA | 1610168400January 9 - April 29, 2021 |
South Bay Film Society | Torrance | CA | 1602129600October 8, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Speed Art Museum | Louisville | KY | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Strand Theatre | Rockland | ME | 1606798800December 1 - December 31, 2020 |
Symphony Space | New York | NY | 1605675600November 18, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
Tampa Theatre | Tampa | FL | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Taos Center For The Arts | Taos | NM | 1607058000December 4, 2020 - January 22, 2021 |
TCAN Cinema | Natick | MA | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
The Broad Theater | New Orleans | LA | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
The Cary Theater | Cary | NC | 1601524800October 1, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
The Little Theatre | Rochester | NY | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
The Moviehouse | Millerton | NY | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
The Neon | Dayton | OH | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
The Picture House | Pelham | NY | 1601438400September 30, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
The Ryder Film Series | Bloomington | IN | 1601611200October 2, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
The Screening Room | Newburyport | MA | 1601956800October 6, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
The Tull Family Theater | Sewickley | PA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Time & Space Limited | Hudson | NY | 1600833600September 23, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Tivoli at the Nelson-Atkins | Kansas City | MO | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Upstate Films - Starr Cinema | Rhinebeck | NY | 1601524800October 1, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Varsity Theatre | Davis | CA | 1601524800October 1, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Violet Crown Austin | Austin | TX | 1603166400October 20, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Violet Crown Charlottesville | Charlottesville | VA | 1603166400October 20, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Violet Crown Santa Fe | Santa Fe | NM | 1603166400October 20, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |
Waters Edge Cinema | Provincetown | MA | 1601006400September 25, 2020 - January 21, 2021 |