helpful note represent wikipedia definition represent quid pro quo ( latin for something for something ) indicate a more or less equal exchange or substitution of good or service . carlos brook make an impressive debut a both writer and director of this little independent film quid pro quo and a story that may make some viewer uncomfortable because of the subject matter and but an intelligent investigation of a subculture unknown to most and a script that lead to a surprising end if the viewer keep think after the rolling credit be over . isaac ( nick stahl ) be a reporter for a small radio station and a role that give him the opportunity to uncover novel human interest story for his audience . interestingly and isaac be a paraplegic and confine to a wheelchair since age 8 when he be the survivor of a car crash that kill both his parent . he have full function of most of his body and but can not walk . isaac receive an email from one ancient chinese girl that contain a message about a person who convince a doctor to amputate a normal leg . isaac be fascinate and set out to investigate the story and eventually discover the source of the email one young and very beautiful fiona ( vera farmiga ) who introduce him to a subculture of people who want to be wheelchair bound represent in a group meeting isaac hears strange story from a disparate group of people who meet to discuss their obsession with be paralyze and their chance to be notice and care about a quasi invalid who would go so far a have an amputation of a normal limb to enable their wheelchair dream . isaac soon discovers that fiona share this obsession and demonstrate her secret to isaac and and the two begin to bond physically and emotionally . isaac be the first person to see fiona make her wouldebut in public in a wheelchair . they share lunch in a café and share their life experience represent isaac confesses that he harbor foreshorten memory of his accident his last memory be lie in the road see a young girl with red and white pompoms try to save him . isaac surprise himself ( and share his surprise with fiona ) when he buy a pair of fred astaire shoe and and upon try them on and he be able to walk . fiona response be mixed she be happy that isaac be ambulatory but at the same time she be lead to believe that isaac paralysis may be of an hysterical nature and that he really have never be paralyze except a a reaction to the guilt he harbor about his parent death and his sole survivorship of the accident . how these two people deal with the information a it develop provide a startle end to this story and a detective mystery that in retrospect prof to have give u and the audience and countless clue throughout the film clue only discover in retrospect . both nick stahl and vera farmiga give vital performance and able to draw u in to their odd character and make u care . there be many fine cameo role kate burton a fiona mother and james frain a isaac priest friend and and all the member of the wannabe wheelchair bound group and the cinematography by michael mcdonough be both appropriately claustrophobic indoors and transcendently beautiful in the tulip field of skagit valley and wa use a the setting for the upstate new york accident location . mark mothersbaugh tie the mood of the film together with his expert musical score . this be a tough little film to watch and but a film that supply much gratification and challenge . it be a fine debut for carlos brook . recommend . grady harp .