The director is the artist and the screen is their canvass for featuring their interpretation of iconic historic events, fascinating scientific discoveries, or unexplained miracles. Hollywood’s big screen can serve as one of the most powerful and influential tools for educating, inspiring, and enlightening. There have been so many movies that have successfully raised awareness of issues in the disability community, but more importantly, they illustrate the power of hope and perseverance. It would be too long a post to name them all! As an avid movie lover who enjoys deep, heart-felt messages learned through movies, I share my top ten best inspirational, disability-related movies of all time!
10. The Sessions (2012): This important film speaks to us about the sexual desires, physical needs, and a basic emotion felt by all people: the instinctual need for making an intimate connection with another. However, in the disability community, the mere word “sex” is a topic that is rarely touched upon, let alone acknowledged. John Hawkes plays the role of a man with severe physical impairments, while Helen Hunt stars as his sex surrogate therapist. The movie may seem a little slow for those longing for explosive scenes and flying mutants, but for those of us who are connected to the disability community, we learn to understand and respect those basic needs. Hopefully, many will consider opening their minds to supporting surrogate sex therapy.
9. Children of a Lesser God (1986): I was first introduced to the world of sign language with this film. Romance is sparked between a speech pathologist (played by William Hurt) and a young woman who is deaf (played by Marlee Matlin). Their struggle is about his will to get her to explore speaking verbally, while she feels strongly about how he should respect her right to continue to use sign language (she’s been signing her whole life). The performances are as moving as they are powerful (Marlee Matlin won an academy award for her performance). But most of all, I loved learning about the world of silence in a love story that features two passionate people who communicate differently.
8. Mozart and the Whale (2005): My husband surprised me one evening by renting this love story, and I’m so glad he did! Donald, a math savant (played by Josh Hartnett) and Isabelle, a savant musician (played by Rahda Mitchell), meet at a local Asperger’s support group and take a shot at romance. I can’t tell you how much my husband and I enjoyed this movie, it was brilliantly done. Josh and Rahda did their homework and were able to play these roles splendidly. The movie provides an in-depth view of the social challenges experienced by people with Autism, and I would certainly recommend it to families and friends for insightful information about life on the spectrum.
7. Miracle Worker (1962): Inspired by the life story of Helen Keller, this is the movie that taught me everyone can learn, behaviors can be modified, and quality of life can be achieved. Starring Anne Bancroft (won Academy award for Best Leading Actress) as Anne Sullivan, and Patty Duke (won Academy award for Best Supporting Actress) as Helen Keller, this is the movie that brought the triumphant story of Helen Keller to life. Anne Sullivan is a teacher from a school for the blind, hired by the family as a last resort to teach young Helen, who is blind and deaf and runs the risk of being institutionalized. There are several remakes of this movie, but in my opinion, this is the one to watch!
6. Rain Man (1988): After the passing of his father, fast-talking car salesman, Charlie Babbit (played by Tom Cruise) is shocked when he learns his father’s estate (worth millions) is being left to an institution that cares for his older brother Raymond (played by Dustin Hoffman- won Academy Award for Best Actor), who he’s never met! The performances in this movie are on point! Who could expect that Dustin Hoffman would ever disappoint? And Tom Cruise did a superb job taking us through his characters life-changing experience, meeting, learning about, and eventually loving his brother. The first time I ever heard the word “autism” was during this academy award winning film for best picture, and I still love watching it to this day.
5. I am Sam (2001): I have always been a big fan of Sean Penn, but pairing him with Dakota Fanning and Michelle Pfeifer was a recipe for perfection on the big screen. Sam Dawson (played by Sean Penn) is a single-dad with an intellectual disability who’s raising his seven-year-old daughter, Lucy (played by Dakota Fanning). You fall in love with Sam, Lucy, and all of their friends, but you also find yourself drawn to and admiring their loving relationship. They receive support and assistance from great friends, but their happy home is threatened when social services gets wind of this unusual situation – especially when it becomes apparent that Lucy begins to play the role of the supervising adult over her father. Be prepared to have Kleenex nearby, this one’s a real tear-jerker!
4. The Theory of Everything (2014): Based on the true-inspiring story of the brilliant physicist, Stephen Hawking (played by Eddie Redmayne). The movie takes you through his life, his diagnosis of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, his marriage, professional career, and how he adapted to the challenges of having such a cruel ailment that strips away a person’s ability to live independently. The renowned scientist lives a full life of love, romance, raising children, and tops it all off with a prominent, successful career, despite his physical challenges. Stephen Hawking is living proof that anyone can do anything with the right supports, determination, and perseverance.
3. Miracle Run (2004): Based on a true story, single mom Corrine (played by Mary-Louise Parker) learns her twin sons (Zac Efron and Bubba Lewis) are diagnosed with having Autism at five-years-old. Corrine struggles with battling the system and its lack of services, behavioral issues causing her to lose job after job, and isolation from friends and relationships. She works hard with her boys and discovers they have amazing abilities and make impressive strides in life – contrary to all who didn’t believe it could be so. This made my favorites list because I can relate to it on so many levels. We hear the words, "won't, will never, and won't be able to," too often. This movie reminds me of how much we have to rely and hold on to our hope, and draw strength from our love for our children.
2. Mask (1985): I absolutely love this movie! Based on a true story, single mom Rusty (played by Cher) is an unconventional mom raising her son Rocky (played by Eric Stoltz). Rocky is born with Craniodiaphyseal Dysplasia, a rare disease causing major facial deformity. After surpassing his life expectancy, Rocky proves to be an exceptional student struggling with bullying, social acceptance, and his mother’s loose lifestyle. He finds comfort in his mother’s love, biker friends, and an unexpected summer romance. This is a fantastic film with Cher demonstrating her skills and range as an actress, but it also brings to light how much we tend to idealize the superficial things in life that should mean the least to us.
1.Lorenzo’s Oil (1992): This made my number one choice for too many reasons to list. If I must name one, it’s because it is a true story about parents who never gave up hope. After their six year old son receives the devastating diagnosis of ALD (Adenoleukodystrophy) a disease so rare that there is barely any information on the disease or scientists working to relieve or cure it. These two parents (Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon) were told to go home and watch their son die. They didn’t. Without medical degrees or any scientific training, these parents go on an incredible mission to save their son’s life before time runs out. What they did, not only saved their son’s life, they save hundreds of other children too. I always watch this movie when I feel lost and defeated, and each time it snaps me out of my down-spell and gets me moving without fail.
Is there a movie I missed that you feel should have made this list? What’s your favorite?
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Is there a movie I missed that you feel should have made this list? What’s your favorite?
This post contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission if you purchase a products from this site at no additional cost to you.
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