Movies with a character who is disabled

Born to a poor family and with the support of his mother, Bridget Brenda Fricker , a teacher, he breaks down the barriers that prevent him from integrating into society by using just his left foot to write and paint. Despite being diagnosed with a devastating disease, he and Jane break new scientific ground. Louise Clark is a happy and crazy girl who goes from one job to another to help support her family.

Everything changes when she begins to work as a caregiver for a young millionaire, who was left quadriplegic after an accident. The more time they spend together, the more they establish a bond. A woman abandons her daughter the same day she is born, leaving her in the hands of her father, Sam Dawson, who is intellectually disabled.

The film follows the difficulties that the father and daughter have to face. Soul Surfer is the inspiring true story of teen surfer, Bethany Hamilton, who lost an arm in a shark attack. She bravely overcomes this obstacle and with determination and unwavering faith, competes to become a champion once again. After an accident, the former sailor is left bedridden. The idea of assisted suicide divides members of his family as well as society.

Young horsewoman Grace MacLean is left bitter and disabled after a shocking trail riding accident. Under the watchful eye of Tom, Grace and Pilgrim begin to regain confidence in each other and the world around them. Ben is the newly hired and wholly underqualified carer of disabled teen , Trevor, who lacks the basic life experience of most kids his age.

The film explores the limits placed on people with disabilities by society and the healing power of finally having a friend.

Vincent Anton Freeman lives with a visual impairment and a heart condition in a society that believes in eugenics and genetic engineering. He must ignore his disabilities or become the victim of discrimination that would ruin his career.

The film is a powerful commentary on the impacts of genetic engineering and the division of "valid" and "invalid" people. The Elephant Man is a shocking revelation of the treatment of a severely disfigured twenty-one-year-old man in 19th century London. The film is a raw and honest biopic of the life of Joseph Merrick, known as John on screen.

Although the doctor believes him to be intellectually disabled when they meet, he soon discovers John is an intelligent and gentle man.

This is a shocking reminder of the cruelty that can be inflicted upon people with disabilities, countered by the story of a humble Merrick who only let their cruelty make him kind. When her husband begins to struggle with her care, Kate hires brash college student Bec to assist her.

The relationship between the two women is a strong example of how disability, while isolating, can bring the right people closer together. Films are not only a great source of entertainment, but their stories can often be inspirational as well. It is truly empowering to witness the courage and determination of those who overcome adversity to achieve their dreams. Have you ever watched any of these inspirational movies about disabilities?

Sign up for email newsletters. Yes, I consent to receive email newsletters about products, services, promotions, news, events and useful resources. What does this mean? This article is part of our Best of the Decade series. The importance and expansion of representation and diversity continue to reverberate throughout the film industry. So now feels like just as good a time as any to reflect on a personal area near and dear to my own heart; disability in cinema. However, one doesn't need to specifically hone in on the past two years or so when representation and diversity were really pressured to improve , for the entire decade has a sampling of terrific films studying a wide array of disabilities, ranging from blockbuster films to French cinema.

So let's get to the list, and please take a chance on something if it sounds interesting. There's nothing better than enjoying a great movie and educating oneself on vital topics. Admittedly, this is not the best of films artistically but deserves a spot here for quite a few reasons. The first of which is that a major studio actually gave the go-ahead to a popcorn action flick where the leading character requires a prosthetic leg.

When you nab Dwayne Johnson, a. The Rock himself, to take that role and show some vulnerability underneath his chiseled statuesque presence, you have brain-dead explosions that are at least promoting the idea that action heroes do not require fully functioning limbs.

It also helps that Skyscraper keeps the disability front and center of the movie, even during its numerous ridiculous set pieces. Obviously, suddenly going from daredevil to zero mobility triggers a nasty depression alongside suicidal thoughts, making for an intriguing dynamic that is not often handled well on screen.

The Intouchables is most definitely feel good as caretaker Driss Omar Sy lifts Phillipe's spirits and helps him discover a new lease on life, but there's also a romantic angle framed by letters that eventually goes on to speak something rather sad and truthful about the nature of dating when it comes to many physically limited individuals. The subplot and the rest of the core story remained intact along with the American remake of the film released in January of this year renamed The Upside a decidedly more comedic take considering the casting of Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart , and you can read my more in-depth analysis of that version's treatment towards its disabled character here.

However, the point is that this is clearly a story that has resonated with a worldwide audience. Quite a few films on this very list are generalized Hollywood approaches to utilizing various disabilities as inspiration for the soul, whereas Chained for Life directed by Aaron Schimberg, who was actually born with a bilateral cleft palate employs a movie-within-a-movie framing device to analyze such a thing alongside society's interactions with these often ostracized individuals.

At the center of the on-screen film a schlocky European horror period piece involving Germans erasing physical abnormalities is a love story between Adam Pearson's Rosenthal and Jess Weixler's Mabel. One of them harbors traditional beauty, while the other is diagnosed with neurofibromatosis basically, face tumors , with both surrounded by an assortment of supporting players everything from Siamese twins to giants. A rarity among films on this list, Adam Pearson does legitimately have the condition.

Complicated relationship dynamics begin to blossom that, while they never become cut and dry, speak to wrongheaded able-bodied perceptions. Pearson himself is self-deprecating as charming, while Jess Weixler's character quickly warms up to him and is more than willing to give his character acting advice. Naturally, the two movies in one structure pave the way for something confusing and vague, but not without multiple touching segments including a moment of bitterness from Rosenthal regarding romance, and an intimate sequence containing nudity from both parties that is simultaneously awkward and beautiful for a layered number of reasons.

If it weren't for some occasional meta self-indulgence, Chained for Life would easily top the list Schimberg is somewhat building a filmography centered on disabilities , but is still fairly vital viewing and will most likely enrich the mindsets of the able-bodied. And now for the mainstream version of the above.