All the hype surrounding Murderball, unfortunately, hasn’t resulted in great ticket sales (I haven’t seen it yet myself; hopefully this weekend). Some believe that moviegoers aren’t comfortable with an honest portrayal of people with disabilities. Frankly, I think that’s bullshit. Maybe I expect too much of people, but I can’t believe people continue to be turned off by the mere sight of people in wheelchairs. Are we still that foreign to most people’s daily experiences? Maybe the title confuses people; perhaps they think it’s sports-themed horror movie. Or maybe it hasn’t been advertised enough on television or radio.
But then again, maybe the notion of disability still does bother people. I just came back from my building’s National Night Out deck party. When I joined a group of people at one table, one person definitely did not seem thrilled with my presence at first. Her body language was kind of defensive unit I started talking to her. By the time I left that table, her attitude was much warmer, but perhaps it proves the point that it’s going to take more than a movie to get people comfortable with disability. Perhaps I put too much faith in the better angels of human nature. I just don’t know.
“The only explanation is that people don’t want to see something about handicapped people. There is some resistance,” said Mark Urman, head of the theatrical division at the New York-based THINKFilm.”
That is total bologna – I’ve never even heard of this movie, and I use a wheelchair. It’s not playing at any theater near me. They’re not spending the money to market or distribute it.
I think there are a lot of people that aren’t comfortable with people in wheelchairs. It amazes me how awkward some people are around me. I’m very friendly and “normal looking” other than being in a chair. If children are any indication, we have a long way to go. As much as I like them, I cringe when I’m in public, because they usually stare at me or make comments. Their parents are not educating them, and they’re probably not educated themselves. People often assume that I’ve been in a car accident and am paralyzed, when I’m not (I have muscular dystrophy). Now that people with disabilities are being included more in society, hopefully things will improve.
Anyhoo, long-winded comment there, sorry. It is going to take more than a movie, but a movie is good. I hope that maybe stories like this about nobody going to see it will make people aware it’s out there and they’ll go see it. I know a lot of people who would be interested in it – it sounds pretty awesome.
I’d go, but they’re not showing it here. I have no car and can’t drive out to the nearest artsy theater in the big city at night to see it. Grr. I saw a commercial for Murderball “playing in theaters everywhere” and was all, “Bullshit!”
(Though oddly enough, we have “March of the Penguins” airing right now. Must be because this is a science town.)