Disabilities
Living with 'disability' is a reality for many of us, yet seldom are disabled members of society seen on the big screen. Breakthrough hits like 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', 'My Left Foot' and 'Children of a Lesser God' illustrate the rich depth of experience and valuable stories that should be and are being told. From the bizarre ('Freaks') to the inspiring ('Mask') from the sweet ('Mozart and the Whale') to the tough as nails ('Murderball').
Dominick and Eugene (1988)
7.1/10
Director: Robert M Young
Starring: Tom Hulce, Ray Liotta, Jamie Lee Curtis
This warm and emotional tale stars Tom Hulce and Ray Liotta and tells of a young medical student preparing to leave home for college and his older, me... Read more
The Men (1950)
7.2/10
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Starring: Marlon Brando, Teresa Wright, Everett Sloane
Marlon Brando's first film, this is about a paralyzed WW2 vet trying to deal with his injury. A sensitive script and great acting make this a true cla... Read more
Shine ( Blu-ray ) (1996)
7.7/10
Director: Scott Hicks
Starring: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Noah Taylor, Geoffrey Rush, Lynn Redgrave, John Gielgud
Geoffrey Rush's upset win for the Best Actor Oscar was the jewel in the crown for this wonderful, moving little film portraying the torrid true story... Read more
See What I Mean (1992)
Director: Shirley Horrocks
This educative documentary presents two real life stories - the true story of a family who were all born deaf, and the story of a journalist who disco... Read more
Bill: On His Own (1983)
7.6/10
Director: Anthony Page
Starring: Mickey Rooney, Helen Hunt, Edie McClurg, Tracey Walter, Teresa Wright, Dennis Qu...
This made for televison sequel to the Emmy-winning 1981 film 'Bill' stars Mickey Rooney as Bill Sackter, once more struggling to survive in the mainst... Read more
My Left Foot (Blu-ray) (1989)
7.9/10
Director: Jim Sheridan
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Brenda Fricker, Ray McAnally, Cyril Cusack
The acclaimed true story of Christy Brown, an Irish artist and writer who refused to let the cerebral palsy that crippled him since birth make him a p... Read more
The Elephant Man (Blu-ray) (1980)
8.2/10
Director: David Lynch
Starring: Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Freddie J...
From the director of 'Eraserhead' and 'Dune', based on the true story of John Merrick, who suffered from a rare, physically distorting disease and was... Read more
Change, Loss and Grief (2011)
'Change, Loss and Grief' is filmed in NZ Sign Language with English subtitles. It features members of the Deaf Community sharing their experiences of... Read more
The Sessions (Blu-ray) (2012)
7.2/10
Director: Ben Lewin
Starring: Adam Arkin, Helen Hunt, William H Macy, John Hawkes, Rhea Perlman, Moon Bloodgoo...
Candid and sensitive drama about the sexual awakening of a life-long polio sufferer. John Hawkes stars as Mark O'Brien, a writer in his late thirties... Read more
Reach for the Sky (1956)
7.3/10
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Starring: Kenneth More, Muriel Pavlow, Alexander Knox
A well told account of British pilot Douglas Bader (Kenneth More) who overcame the loss of both legs, to become one of the most remarkable fighter ace... Read more