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.
“A portrait at once tender and thrilling, a movie that presents us with a man who… was that rare if not unique thing, a scientific navigator of the soul.” — Variety “One of the surprising and moving lessons of this revealing film is how often the most gifted people are unappreciated. [A] thoughtful, deeply affecting film.” — The Hollywood ReporterMusic Box Theatre screens films of all genres and from every era of cinema, both new releases and repertory. These films may sometimes contain upsetting, outdated, or offensive material. While we aim to introduce many of our screenings, we do not always provide warnings about potentially triggering content within the films we screen. We encourage our patrons to research the film before they attend using trailers, reviews, or content information found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com.
Now Showing
September 7 – September 14 / View All
NOIR CITY: Chicago 2026
The Late Show
Indoor Kids: Family-Friendly Matinees
Merciless Mayhem: Martial Arts Midnights, Matinees, & More!
The Chicago Film Society Presents