Whether they’re fighting for equal rights, competing in elite-level athletic competitions, or simply managing their everyday lives, the subjects of the following documentaries encompass a multitude of experiences for those living with disabilities. You can currently stream all these films for free on Kanopy using your Livingston Library card, or you can browse Kanopy’s complete collection of films for Disability Pride month here. (Descriptions provided by Kanopy.)
On the Adamant (2023, directed by Nicholas Philibert)
Winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, this affecting, enlightening documentary from nonfiction master Nicolas Philibert invites viewers to come aboard the Adamant and witness the transformational power of art and community. The Adamant is a one-of-a-kind place: a floating refuge on the Seine River in the heart of Paris that offers day programs for adults with mental illnesses. Its attendees come from across the city and are offered care that grounds them in time and space, helping them achieve recovery and stability. Through a blend of therapy, education, and culture rooted in music and the arts, the Adamant offers a hopeful vision of what a humanistic approach to mental health care could look like. The community on the boat is intentionally created so that both the staff and the people receiving care are treated with the same respect and dignity. Their meetings and conversations reveal the camaraderie and collective humanity of a group of people whose similarities far outweigh their differences.
You Have No Idea (2023, directed by Alexander Jeffery)
When Beth James’ son Evan was diagnosed with autism in the early 90s, treatment options were limited. Doctors offered no practical advice for daily living and advised Beth to limit his social interactions. Rejecting these notions, Beth sets out to provide her son with a life filled with purpose and friendship. This heartfelt film is a sweet testament to the power of love and community by profiling a determined mom advocating for her son.
ParaGold (2022, directed by Ron Davis)
This film follows the lives of four Paralympic equestrian hopefuls as they vie for a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Dressage team. The film focuses on Roxy Trunnell, Rebecca Hart, David Botana, and Sydney Collier on their quest to qualify for – and hopefully win – medals at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Each of the riders has severe physical disabilities, but determination and the bond with their horses propel them to greatness.
Becoming Helen Keller (2021, directed by Michael Pressman)
Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind, used her celebrity and wit to champion rights for women, people with disabilities and people living in poverty. Examines the complex life and legacy of this author, advocate and human rights pioneer.
Your Friend, Memphis (2022, directed by David P. Zucker)
Memphis is wild at heart. But as a young man with cerebral palsy, he feels stuck. His parents waver between supporting his desire for independence and pushing him towards a more pragmatic reality. Your Friend, Memphis is an intimate portrait of Memphis’ dogged determination to bridge the distance between the world’s expectations and his own aspirations.
Murderball (2005, directed by Henry Alex Rubin)
Quad rugby as played by the US team, between 2002 games in Sweden and the 2004 Paralympics in Athens. Young men, most with spinal injuries, play this rough and tumble sport in special chairs, seated gladiators. We get to know several and their families. They talk frankly about their injuries, feelings in public, sex lives, competitiveness, and love of the game. There’s also an angry former team member gone north to coach the Canadian team, tough on everyone, including his viola-playing son. We meet a recently injured man, in rehab, at times close to despair, finding possible joy in quad rugby. After Athens, the team meets young men injured in war: the future stars of Team USA.
Take a Look at This Heart (2019, directed by Ben Duffy)
A film about love, sexuality, and the human bond within the disabled community. A journey into the lives of 17 very unique people; some with disabilities and the partners who love them, others struggling to get by in a world that seems to often overlook them. In exploring the confidence and unconditional love that these humans have for themselves and each other, you may begin to question your own notions on life, love, and what it means to really feel in every sense of the word.
Defiant Lives: The Rise of the Disability Rights Movement (2017, directed by Sarah Barton)
A triumphant film that traces the origins of the world-wide disability rights movement. It tells the stories of the individuals who bravely put their lives on the line to create a better world where everyone is valued and can participate. Featuring interviews and rarely seen archival footage, the film reveals how these activists fought to live outside of institutions, challenged the stigmas and negative image of disability portrayed by the media, demanded access to public transportation, and battled to reframe disability rights as a social responsibility relevant to us all.
–Joe, Adult Services & Acquisitions