When it comes to movies especially in the holiday season, traditional tales like It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol or other films that are filled with Christmas vibes, songs on backdrops of snow and tinsel to celebrate the holiday season.
But this time, let’s give it a break and enjoy some totally off-beat movies. So here’s a list of 4 moves inspired by the disability that can inspire many along with making society more inclusive towards them.
The Theory of Everything (2014)
The Theory of Everything is a thoughtful analysis of the effects of disability on personal relationships as well as families. Based on the true-life story of Stephen and Jane Hawking, the film shows a shared life, his career, and a naive family that continues to grow along with Stephen’s disability.
At age 21, he was diagnosed with a fatal disease – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – and slowly yet gradually lost the use of his limbs. Regardless of his illness, Stephen Hawking went on to become one of the most successful and celebrated scientists in history.
The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
This movie is not based on any true-life events or persons, however, the movie gives you an insight into the lives of people living with disabilities and how they deal with it along with the people around them. Adapted from the novel by Jonathan Evison, “The Fundamentals of Caring” is basically an offbeat comedy-drama with a cast including Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, and Selena Gomez.
The movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016, follows a story of a writer (played by Paul Rudd) who due to personal tragedy decides to become a personal caregiver for Trevor, a young guy (played by Craig Roberts) who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Still Alice (2014)
Featuring the story of a linguistics professor after being diagnosed with early-onset familial Alzheimer’s Disease shortly after her 50th birthday. As Alice and her family members get ready to handle it smartly, she starts to struggle with her increasing memory loss because of the illness. Besides her disease, the movie also touches on a variety of issues such as self-determination, suicide, and caregiving.
The film stars Academy Award-winning actor Julian Moore, who plays the titular character. “Still Alice” is an independent drama movie based on a novel by author and neuroscientist, Lisa Genova.
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020)
A documentary from Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground Productions. It is about Camp Jened (located in the Catskills in the US), the only camp which welcomed people with disabilities in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s whereas other mainstream summer camps restricted people with disabilities and were mostly sent to institutions based on their disabilities.
It also involves real historical footage from the camp, the film highlights the revolutionary spirit that surrounded these camps and the complex experiences of many of the people who lived in these camps. Many of these campers went on to become great leaders in the disability rights movement in the U.S.A.
