Un jour, une vie

This movie is a touching human interest story and gives the average viewer a better appreciation of the overwhelming challenges faced by those who must deal daily with disabilities, particularly adjustment to quadriplegia. It also brings sharply to mind that this young girl, Jill Kinmont's fate could so easily in a split second be our own, resulting from a sports injury, car accident, or whatever. Jill's story reminds me of another lovely & famous quadriplegic, Joni Eareckson Tada, who suffered a diving accident as a teenager but went on to become an accomplished artist, and has a remarkable faith which is an inspiration to many.

This film is based on the real life story of Jill Kinmont, an eighteen year old skiing champion & Olympic hopeful, who suffered a severe fall down a mountain, which not only ended her skiing career but paralyzed her from the shoulders down. Jill's struggles are poignantly chronicled as she learns to cope with life as a quadriplegic and regain a hopeful spirit, assisted by her devoted family. Eventually she even finds a love interest in the form of Dick (called 'Mad Dog') Buek.

Marilyn Hassett is convincing and very sympathetic in her portrayal of the vibrant & determined young Jill, and Beau Bridges wonderful as the warm & adventuresome Dick.

A strong recommendation for this film. It paints a vivid portrait of the realities faced by those who must depend on others for personal care and simply daily tasks, also their struggle for some measure of independence and the same respect granted able bodied individuals. Hopefully, this movie might tend to impart to those of us not disabled a little more gratitude for abilities we take for granted every day. Also, this story has a very appealing heroine and a touching romance.

I really enjoyed this movie. I felt the best part of it was Marilyn Hassett's performance as Jill, and the supporting cast was very good. Based on a real life story, it was well-acted and well-scripted. The theme song sung by Olivia Newton-John is excellent, too.

I became a paraplegic at the age of 23 on May 10th. 1979. When I came home from the rehab center the movie The Other Side of the Mountain came on. I had no idea what the movie was about. My girlfriend and I watched and cried through the whole movie. I could not believe how close it hit home and what my family and friends were going through. It is and always will be one of my favorite movies. I taped both one and two, but through out the years the tape is hard to watch and would love to get a new version of the movie. I wrote a book ( Rolling through Life )about my life after 30 years as a paraplegic, married for 25 and two beautiful children latter, life is good :) Sincerely. Lorraine "Scott" Bain

RR#1 Arcadia Box 4660

Yarmouth Ns Canada

B0W1B0

My girlfriend and I watched the movie, a few years later I even swiped one of Dick's lines from the movie, I told my girlfriend "I don't care if you walk, crawl or slither on your belly like a snake up the isle." It was a few years later that she went up the isle in a wheelchair, she had MS when I met her and took her from me twenty five years later. I would like to thank Jill and Marilyn for their story and performance to help us along. I am a cross between her cowboy and Mad Dog and we had a good time together while it lasted. We knew each other for twenty five years and were together for nineteen, I took care of her as a caregiver for seventeen of those nineteen until 1997 when I lost her to the MS. Again, thank you Jill and Marilyn you helped us a lot. Steve

Even though about three quarters of the way through, this movie begins to run out of steam it still is an exceptional film. The ski equipment and clothing were dead on for the time period and adds much to the picture. Even though it was partly about skiing a person watching this doesn't have to be a skier or have ever skied to enjoy it. Superior to the sequel. A must see as far as human interest movies go.