Whose Life Is It Anyway?

Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) starring Richard Dreyfuss, John Cassavetes, Christine Lahti, Bob Balaban. A talented sculptor (Dreyfuss) is injured in a traffic accident and ends up paralyzed from the neck down. After six months in the hospital, receiving the best of care, he realizes that he is, for all intents and purposes, already dead. He decides to fight for his right to be released from the hospital and allowed to die. Well acted drama features plenty of humor as Dreyfuss interacts with hospital staff, fellow patients. In fact, he doesn't seem depressed, although the court case deciding whether he should be freed hinges on that question. This is an excellent film about a serious subject, and I liked it a lot. (English subtitles are available on the disc, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+