Fox Searchlight’s The Sessions is a film based on a true story about poet Mark O’Brien, who was crippled by polio as a child. It’s a story about the trials of living day to day with the after effects of the disease. It's also a story about a sex surrogate, and the even deeper trials of finding love in a life spent almost entirely in an iron lung. Actors John Hawkes and Helen Hunt handle their material with aplomb, but as the following exclusive Blu-ray bonus clip shows, they had a little help.
The real-life Cheryl Cohen-Greene pops up in the clip to talk about the sex surrogate work she accomplishes that helps students to understand how to communicate better, as well as learn to be comfortable with their bodies, among other skill sets. Her passion and worldview are extremely unique, and Helen Hunt was excited to take on that personality during the film. Additionally, I find it interesting that Director Ben Lewin initially began carving out a biopic that was later able to be turned into a much more poignant film, thanks to the help of Cohen-Greene and those who knew O’Brien and his story.
The Sessions is a unique tale that is handled delicately, and if you haven’t gotten the chance to see it, you should check out the film when it is released on DVD and in a Blu-ray combo pack on February 12. If you do plan to purchase, I highly suggest buying the Blu-ray copy of the film, which comes with a variety of extra bonus features, including deleted scenes and “A Session with the Cast.” Movies based on true stories often offer really interesting bonus features, and The Sessions is no exception. You can check out the full list of extras before deciding whether or not the Blu-ray is a good option, yourself.
