Over 30 years ago Robby Benson was cast to play a young Chicano boy in a movie about gangs and gang members. The world was up in arms. Tens of thousands of qualified Chicano actors and they cast a nice Jewish boy from the Valley. Since then a lot of progress has been made. In more recent years actors with disabilities have been cast to play people with disabilities. Even if the role did not require a disability, these actors are still being cast more often.
You are absolutely right. There is a disproportionate representation of women with disabilities. Hopefully we will get there soon.
Recently I saw a French film called ” The Intouchables”, an extraordinary film about a man paralyzed from the neck down and his caregiver. I highly recommend it. It is done with subtitles which can make home viewing more difficult. But you do not need to understand all of the words to love this film.
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Dan and Jen,
I applaud you for your topic and wish it weren't true, yet there is an absence of films featuring anyone with disabilities. Disabilities come in all shapes and sizes, and I believe there has been more of a proliferation of movies about people with disabilities ("I Am Sam", "Benny & Joon","Rain Man", "A Beautiful Mind", "As Good As It Gets" and "Shine" among others) yet it's not enough.
On the other hand...I was diagnosed in 1987. In 1998 a film came out called "Hilary & Jackie" which focused on the tragic life of Jacqueline du Pre (which was later criticized on how it was portrayed), a famous cellist who lost her battle with MS. It graphically portrayed her battle with MS. My parents saw the film and were horrified and afraid for what might happen to me (even though I'd explained to them for the past 11 years that I have RRMS). I have never watched the film.
I think there should be truth in storytelling and the movies are no exception. My parents were frightened and I've never seen the movie, but I still believe that the world should know the truth about what MS is and isn't. Each disability should be portrayed truthfully and honestly. There should be more and more and more films about disability - and about women with disabilities.
What do we do about this? I can't say. I guess we all have a novel in us, eh?:-)