Emma Davie’s feature-length documentary explores the ethics and aesthetics of making a film with, rather than about, a man dying of Motor Neurone Disease.
Neil Platt had only six months left to live when he asked Emma Davie and Morag McKinnon in the Scottish Documentary Institute to film with him in 2008. Earlier that year Platt had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a degenerative illness that attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Above all else, Platt wanted to raise awareness of MND. He wished to give voice not only to his own experience but also to others living with the same diagnosis.
I Am Breathing was made ‘with’, rather than ‘about’ Platt. Platt, Davie and McKinnon worked together closely throughout the production process. The filmmakers wanted to demonstrate how such a film collaboration could work to empower Platt. They also hoped the unique style of the film would help viewers to share Platt’s experience.
The project raised ethical questions about the filmmaking process, and about the relationship between the subject and object in documentary film. Davie wished to experiment with filmic practices to make sure the story came through naturally.
I Am Breathing was an honest portrayal of Neil’s life and final days with MND. Given the intense and intimate nature of documentary-filming, the process began with discussions between Platt, his family, and the film crew. These discussions made sure the film stuck to ethical principles, from filming to distribution.
Danish editor Janus Billeskov Jensen provided mentorship throughout, and the Danish Film Institute provided feedback on drafts. This feedback persuaded the filmmakers to focus less on Platt’s suffering. It also leaves more space in the film to show Platt’s story with empathy.
The filmmakers used quotes and excerpts from Neil’s blog to shape and narrate the story. They also varied camera angles; this ensured the audience views scenes from Neil’s eyes and from the ‘outside’.