I recently learned about a groundbreaking film festival touring the country called The REELAbilities Film Festival. Created in 2007, this festival is dedicated to spreading awareness about disability through film. It offers an opportunity to see award-winning movies, by and about people living with disabilities, in a city near you.
I was fortunate to see three of their films, two that I will review here; the third I’ll review in a separate post
Gabrielle (2013, French with subtitles): Gabrielle, a 2013 Canadian Oscar nominated film, is a simple love story about a young woman with William’s Syndrome who has an infectious zest for life and a strong need to live a “normal” one. She falls in love with Martin, a young man she meets at the recreation center where they both are choir members. Gabrielle and Martin become inseparable until Martin’s mother fears they are becoming intimate, causing her decision to keep her son home and away from Gabrielle’s heart.
I highly recommend this movie for several reasons. First, I felt I was not being hit over the head with any heavy moral messages. The director used a soft touch by allowing the characters and the story to gently unfold, weaving its way in and out of delicate matters that finally landing directly into my heart..
Another reason I enjoyed Gabrielle was because of Gabrielle Marion-Rivard and her joie de vivre performance in the lead role. This was her first professional role, yet this remarkable young woman with her captivating smile and sweet disposition was a joy to watch. She was the character, and her performance was certainly award worthy.
Her role allowed us to take a peek inside her world, and through her we see what life is like when able-bodied people don’t understand the abilities someone can possess despite any disability they may have.
It’s All About Friends (2014, Swedish with subtitles): I strongly recommend this feel-good movie that uses disabled actors as some of the main characters (as does Gabrielle). The film centers around a circle of friends who live in a group home, and decide they’d like to make a film about their lives. Their friend, Peter, calls his old friend, Max, who is about to commit suicide. Unknowingly, Peter’s phone call saves Max’s life. Max agrees to shoot the film, but doesn’t know it will center on people with varying disabilities. He is now forced to face his own prejudices.
This is a sweet movie with characters that charm themselves into our hearts. It’s an indie-type movie that makes us glad we took the time to watch it. We cheer the characters on as we realize that their goodness and valuable insight is teaching us that disability doesn’t mean inability.
To find venues and the schedule of events for all of the films, please visit the REELAbilities Film Festival website.
Thanks for the recommendations. Lately I'd rather watch movies at home than go to the theaters. I'll check these out.
I couldn't get the second trailer to play, but the first looks like a fabulous film. Perhaps the Reelabilities film festival will come to Denver. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the films you share. Thank you!
I love movie recommendations from someone I trust! Thank you!
Hi Cathy - Thanks for the recos, always looking for good, worthwhile films to watch!
Great ideas of new movies to watch! I love movies and these look like positively wonderful. I am going to have to check them out!!! Thanks!
These both look great! I'll have to see if this is coming to San Diego. Otherwise, I'll look for them on Netflix. Thanks for the recommendations!
These movies look wonderful and I will put them on our Netflix list. So glad that both employed actors with disabilities to play the roles. I don't think you watched Breaking Bad, but one of the main characters, RJ Mitte, has cerebral palsy. What I loved was that he was just another character -- the disability did not define him at all.