Based on Joni Eareckson's autobiography. She becomes paralyzed after breaking her neck in a swimming accident at age 17. Trying to cope with her new life, she learns to paint using her mouth.
Acting
Joni plays herself — raw, unpolished, impossible to fake.
Practical Effects
Actual mouth-painted artwork, no doubles, no CGI excuses.
Director
James F. Collier
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Joni Eareckson Tada became one of the world's foremost mouth painters, joining the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists association. She painted every canvas shown in the film herself.
Released at peak 'disease-of-the-week' TV movie era, Joni weirdly predates and outearnest the genre it helped spawn. The real Joni later criticized the film's softening of her spiritual struggle.
US
