The Sessions

At age 38, poet and journalist Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes), who survives only by being tethered to an iron lung, has never been in love. Nor has he had sex. A devout Catholic, Mark is reminded of how lonely his existence can be when he grows enamored of an assistant who can't reciprocate his feelings. When an editor assigns him a story about sex and disability, Mark decides that it's time to explore his own sexuality, too. He consults with his priest (William H. Macy), who supports him, and hires a sex surrogate (Helen Hunt), who teaches Mark about his body and with whom he develops an important friendship.