This is a movie about a man with a truly horrifying problem. A problem of extreme disfigurement. Pictures (and the real life story) can be found here. As with all biographical movies, the facts are discarded for the sake of story but we'll deal with the story as given.
The story is about someone who is so seriously disfigured he can't live any kind of normal life. Taken in by a sideshow showman, he lives a horrible life of virtual slavery. He's discoved by a doctor (Anthony Hopkins) who shows him to a medical gathering. The doctor shows him kindness and gives him a home within his hospital. He also treats him as a real person and makes pains to give him dignity.
The hospital becomes a kind of high society showroom and actresses and royalty come to visit him. Unfortunatly, at night, a security guard sells tickets at a local pub to the lower society who come to jeer. On one of these visits, the showman steals him and heads to the continent. Severe treatment follows. And then escape.
Upon his arrival back in England, a mob chases him in a railway station. And that's where the movie's most famous line comes from: "I'm not an animal!". Powerful stuff.
The movie is about dignity and coping with unbelievably difficult circumstances. It's hard not to watch and think, there but for the grace of God go I. A good movie.
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