Glass Jaw
1991 | 00:20:00 | United States | English | B&W | Stereo
Collection: Single Titles
Tags: Diary, Health, Pixelvision


In this impressionistic piece, O’Reilly provides a gripping portrait of personal trauma, while detailing the severe mental and physical confusion following two incidents. In April of 1991, O'Reilly broke his jaw in a biking accident, and in July of that same year he was assaulted and had to undergo brain surgery as a result. The video is breathtaking, as O’Reilly narrates the painful story of his recovery, his problems with Public Aid, and his daily adjustment to pain. Glass Jaw is a powerful contemporary comment on the nature of death and dying, and touches on the politics of the American health care system.
Exhibitions + Festivals
Dallas Video Fesitval, 1992
Videonale Bon, 1993
Dallas Video Festival, 1996