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').
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
Brimstone and Treacle (1982)
7.7/10
Director: Richard Loncraine
Starring: Sting , Denholm Elliott, Joan Plowright, Suzanna Hamilton
An eerie, psychological drama about a manipulative and mesmerising young man (Sting) who worms his way into the home and lives of a middle class coupl... Read more
Bill (1981)
8/10
Director: Anthony Page
Starring: Mickey Rooney, Dennis Quaid
Mickey Rooney is brilliant in the true story of Bill Sackter, a mentally retarded adult who is forced to cope with the world outside the mental instit... Read more
Cutter's Way (1981)
6.9/10
Director: Ivan Passer
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Heard, Lisa Eichhorn, Nina Van Pallandt, Stephen Elliott
One of the most original American films of the last decade. Alex Cutter (John Heard) is the Vietnam veteran disfigured in the war. When his best frien... 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
The Elephant Man (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
Being There (1979)
8/10
Director: Hal Ashby
Starring: Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Warden, Melvyn Douglas, Richard Dysart, Ri...
Peter Sellers gives the performance of his career as Chance, a middle-aged gardener who's led a sheltered life and whose thoughts and behaviour are to... Read more
Coming Home (1978)
7.3/10
Director: Hal Ashby
Starring: Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, Bruce Dern, Robert Carradine
A powerful look at the effects of the Vietnam war on the people at home. Jane Fonda falls in love with paraplegic Jon Voight while her husband (Bruce... Read more
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976)
5.7/10
Director: Randal Kleiser
Starring: John Travolta, Robert Reed, Ralph Bellamy
John Travolta's first starring role was in this made-for-TV tear-jerker, based on the true story of a young man whose life is one of total isolation.... Read more
Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976)
7.6/10
Director: Jimmy Wang Yu
Starring: Jimmy Wang Yu, Kang Kam, Kun Yee Lung, Kar Wing Lau, Lung Wei Wang
A vengeful martial artist who has developed a deadly flying guillotine act is out to settle a score with the One-Armed Boxer. But as he's also blind,... Read more