James Franco's amputation scene is 'cathartic'

03 September 2010Danny Boyle says the scene where James Franco's character cuts off his own arm in new movie 127 Hours will be a lengthy one.

British director Danny is best known for his Academy Award-winning blockbuster Slumdog Millionaire, and his latest film has been greatly anticipated.

The movie is based on the true story of American mountain climber Aron Ralston, who amputated his own arm to free himself after being trapped by a boulder near Moab, Utah, in May 2003.

James Franco stars as Aron in the movie, and Danny says the scene where Aron slowly cuts off his own arm will be drawn out to keep in fitting with the reality that it took 45 minutes to do so.

"It takes him 45 minutes in reality. It is in the film, obviously. The time it takes is respected by the filmmakers. We don't cut away, pardon the expression, and come back and it's gone," Danny explained in an interview with MTV News.

Danny wanted to keep the sequence long as he hopes audiences will go on the journey with Aron, and immerse themselves in his struggle.

"The whole idea of the film is you enter the journey with him and you don't cut away to a lot of people looking for him. It's an immersive experience, and it's cathartic when he does it because it's a relief for everyone and a triumph in some way as well," he explained. © Cover Media