The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

"True story of the Elle France editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who, in 1995 at the age of 43, suffered a stroke that paralyzed his entire body, except his left eye. Using that eye to blink out his memoir, Bauby eloquently described the aspects of his interior world, from the psychological torment of being trapped inside his body to his imagined stories from lands he'd only visited in his mind."

The reviews that I've read (http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2007/11/30/diving_bell/, http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2008/02/04/the_diving_bell_and_the_butterfly_2008_review.shtml, http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/REVIEWS/712200301/1023) all seem to praise the film as inspirational. From the trailer, it does seem like a rather heroic story.

I'm not sure, though, who exactly it would appeal to. Since it is a French film, if it was shown in French with English subtitles, I'm sure the French Club would come. Otherwise, though, it's probably one of those movies that people have heard of but never seen, so would attract a general group of film goers. As for points of discussion, well... I'm not really sure. I'd probably have to see the whole movie.

Murderball

Murderball is a documentary following the athletic, quadriplegics who play wheelchair rugby. The film is visually very interesting and covers many topics, like sex, that most able-bodied people wonder about but are too shy to ask about. It is also honest enough to show the men, flaws and all, so that while it can be very inspiring, the documentary does not act like a paralyzing accident makes everyone a saint. Most reviews that I have read of Murderball are very positive, including those submitted by quadriplegics (imdb.com and amazon.com). 

This film would probably be very interesting to athletes and the general population. Points of discussion could include the sexism portrayed, the acceptance of their injuries (which is explored in the documentary), and also what a sport like this can do, mentally, for a male quadriplegic. 

"Inside I'm Dancing/Rory O'Shea Was Here" (2004)

"Rory O'Shea moves to the Carrigmore Residential Home for the Disabled, affecting the lives of the residents. Roy is able to understand the unintelligible speech of Michael Connolly, who was left in the shelter by his prominent father many years ago due to his cerebral palsy, and they become close friends. Rory convinces Michael to move from Carrigmore to an apartment in Dublin, and they hire the gorgeous Siobhan to assist them. Living together with Rory, Michael faces a new world, finding friendship, love and freedom and learning to survive by his own."
(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417791/plotsummary)

This film seems to be about friendship, and although it features mostly male figures, may still add some variety to the festival's lineup because it is more of an adventure story, and therefore moves away from the romantic, quest, or documentary films. The trailer shows the film to be visually interesting and fairly recent, so it may be good to draw in a crowd. The reviews of the film I have found seems positive, like these: http://www.flixster.com/movie/rory-oshea-was-here-inside-im-dancing

Without seeing the film in entirety, I'm not sure what specific tie-ins we can find to different groups.

The Theory of Flight (1998)

Reviews - http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/theory_of_flight/

While giving an opportunity to represent more women, "The Theory of Flight" is probably not a good candidate for our festival. Upon viewing the trailer as a group, no one seemed to find it particularly appealing for several reasons. The film appears very dated, so I doubt it will draw in much of a crowd. It also falls along the plot lines of a romantic film; several of our other film candidates also have romantic aspects. The film is also rated R, like most of the films we have reviewed. In light of the fact that this film adds little variety to our lineup, and that it is a visual dated film, I do not think this movie will appeal to a largely collegiate audience. I do not recommend "The Theory of Flight" as a candidate for the film festival.

Post-viewing Survey

Here are some ideas for survey questions after participants have viewed each movie in our film festival:

1.  How did you hear about the Disability Film Festival at TTU?

     a) flyer

     b) class recommendation/requirement

     c) friend recommendation

     d) newspaper

2.  Why did you choose to attend?

      a) have friend or family member with a disability

      b) interested in the topic

      c) class credit

      d) other, please specify___________________________

3.  How would you rate this film?

      a) excellent

      b) good

      c) average

      d) lose it!

4.  Is this your first visit to our film festival?

      a) yes

      b) no

5.  Will you return for future films?

      a) of course!

      b) not a chance!

  

6.  Please leave any comments or suggestions you have to help us improve our film festival.

Molly

Beautiful and vibrant, Molly experiences life through the eyes of a chile.  Autistic since birth, Molly (played by Elisabeth Shue) has lived in an institution since her parents' deaths.  The institution must close due to financial problems, and Molly goes to live with her older brother, Buck (played by Aaron Eckhart), an advertising executive, and creates nothing but chaos in his orderly world.  Buck consults Molly's neurologist (played by JillHennessy), who suggests an experimental surgery to treat Molly's autism.  This procedure could completely "cure" her autism, but is it worth the risk?  Molly is willing to take the chance.

Viewed from the perspective of disability studies, this film showcases an in-depth portrayal of a disabled woman, whereas all of our other films and documentaries present only men.  Its plot is mainstream with easily recognizable actors, so it should have wide appeal.  Spirituality and Practice gave a good review.  Though it received mostly negative reviews from professional film critics, we must remember that we are looking at it through the perspective of disability studies, with different goals in mind.  If nothing else, it may generate good discussion for our audience.  Released in 1998, this film is rated PG-13, and is available on DVD.

What's Bugging Seth?

Based on a driven young man who is hearing-impaired, What's Bugging Seth? is a unique love story.  Seth believes one thing--he is no different from anyone else.  He cannot deny his disability.  He throws his life savings into a pest control business and, along the way, he meets Alma, a double amputee who knows how unfair the world can be.  They find romance as they bond over their disabilities, but will their love last, however, when Seth's high school sweetheart returns home after a disappointing modeling career?

This film focuses on themes common to everyone--insecurity and independence.  With wide audience appeal, What's Bugging Seth? is both charming and comedic.  Moreso than some of the other documentaries and films we have selected, this film can generate discussion based on the aspect of romantic love in regard to disability.  Released in 2005, this film gives insight into the everyday lives of the disabled, and is currently available on DVD.

In the Realms of the Unreal

In the Realms of the Unreal is a documentary and biography of Henry Darger,  one of the most celebrated examples of “outsider art,” art created outside the boundaries of official culture.  Identified as learning disabled, he worked all his life in menial jobs.  An artist, janitor, and novelist, Darger lived alone and in poverty, and spent his free time working on a 15,000 page illustrated novel called The Realms of the Unreal.  Full of religious imagery, drama, and fantasy, this novel was only discovered after Darger was moved to a hospital during the last days of his life. 

Narrated by Dakota Fanning and Larry Pine, this documentary uses illustrations, interviews with neighbors, and passages from his works to explore the mind of Henry Darger.  Brought to life on film, this documentary deals with universal themes--the search for meaning in everyday existence, personal control, connection with others, and morality.  Darger created beauty out of what might be considered to be the bleakest of lives.  One review in Variety says Darger "has been posthumously lionized as a visionary genius."  Released in 2004, this documentary is not yet rated, and is available on DVD.

39 Pounds of Love

Ami Ankilewitz is 34 years old and he has spinal muscular atrophy. He speaks three languages, he drinks whiskey, he weighs 39 pounds, and he is in love with his caretaker Christina. His dreams include riding a Harley, and confronting the doctor who told his mother that he, Ami, would not live past age six.

“39 Pounds of Love” combines Ami’s animation with the story of his trip to the United States to visit his brother and find his childhood doctor. From the trailer and clips provided on the film’s website, one can see that the movie loves to cause laughter whenever it can. Ami’s storytelling and the interviews with his friends show just how full of happiness a life can be in spite of a threatening illness. A reviewer for the New York Times writes, “‘39 Pounds of Love’ presents a bracingly honest yet poetic portrait of a man refusing to be defined by the limitations of his body.”

This movie appeals to me just because it is so different from the documentaries I have researched. It is not rated, but is said to have only mild language and some sexual references. I think it could appeal to most audiences though a specific class tie-in might be difficult to find. For the most part, it would be interesting to discuss how a movie like this appeals to the emotions of its audience without making them feel pity for its main subject.

Music Within

“Music Within” is the story of Richard Pimentel and his experiences with disability after he lost his hearing in the Vietnam War. He was a promising public speaker apparently, but after suffering a rejection, he enlists for duty in the war and his hearing loss changes his life forever. After his return, he masters lip-reading and befriends a man with cerebral palsy. Their friendship highlights for him the negative treatment of people with disabilities and so he begins his own crusade to help improve the rights of disabled people in the American workforce.

This film is newer than many of the others we have looked at, and the faces of the actors are familiar even where the names are not. The trailer shows that the film has heart, and reviews seem generally positive about the tone. Roger Egbert praises the film in his review, though he does criticize the film for over-emphasizing the role Pimentel played in the disability rights movement. Perhaps that would be a good place to start discussion; people could be debriefed quickly on other people who helped improve the treatment of the disabled and then discuss what role the ADA has played since its inception.

Another Film Title Worth Checking

I just ran across Darius Goes West, a 2007 documentary about a 15-yr-old with DMD who travels with college students to test accessibility and to try to get MTV's Pimp My Ride to trick out Darius's wheelchair.

Might have cross-age interest from college students and high school students, and it's probably pretty PG, judging from the press it appears to have received.

Trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFt3_s1WnS4

DGW website: http://www.dariusgoeswest.com/

--TB

what needs to be done

write about:

Murderball- Lindsey

Theory of Flight- Keisha

39 Pounds of Love- Allison

The Realm of the Unreal- Morgan

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly- Lindsey

What's Bugging Seth- Morgan

Music Within-  Allison

Inside I'm Dancing/ Rory O'Shea Was Here- Keisha

Molly- Morgan

We also need to look for more movies that show women/girls with disabilities. 

For each movie, write a brief summary/blurb of some kind, maybe from your sense of the trailer or from promotional (make sure you list which it is). Also include links to reviews, potential tie-ins, etc. Also try to identify some themes or points of discussion for each trailer/movie you watch.  

Advertisement Plan Outline (draft)

Advertisement Plan:

general to specific, templates to follow

General

-Identify both on-campus and Upper Cumberland community groups that have the potential to establish direct connections in terms of common interest in the film festival (on-campus groups may include certain courses/majors)

-Utilize various media to advertise and elicit involvement/attendance for the film festival

Specific

- Flyers to be posted around campus and/or community advertising the film festival in two ways:

1. advertising the film festival itself
2. advertising individual films (certain films to be marketed especially to the identified groups above)

- Press release to the campus newspaper, the Oracle, and possibly other publications in the community, describing the film festival and its goals

- Tech announcement to be made on the university’s main page, possibly the same text as above pres release

- Announcement to be made on TTU’s radio station (?)

Method

- Organize volunteer(s) to carry out plan under the instruction of TTU faculty members

- Techniques will include:

1. Email – contacting professors of courses that may find relevant connections to coursework, contacting leaders of groups (for example, TTU athletic groups) that may also find such connections to the film festival’s content
2. Obtaining permission for paper marketing (stamps for flyers in the UC, dorms, and other campus buildings)
3. Other – electronic methods (webpage announcement, radio announcement, discussion with Upper Cumberland community groups)

Templates

- Standard template for film festival flyer(s): several should be designed and volunteers should have options/input between them

- Template(s) for individual films

- Standard Email for professors and on-campus groups

- Announcement/press release template (volunteers should also have input)

suggestions for films

i've found some films regarding schizophrenia: Out of my Mind and People Call Me Crazy (or something like that).

here's a summary of Out of My Mind:

blah blah blah

hey gang!

here's the new website! if you have any questions, let me know!!