My Left Foot-Movie Review

SUMMARY

In the movie My Left Foot, Christy Brown was born in 1930s with the disability of Cerebral palsy in Ireland. According to Friend (p.434), Cerebral palsy is paralysis of the brain that affects muscle control, posture, and movement that is not progressive. With few exceptions relating to his romantic relationships, the movie was based on his disability, and the use of his left foot to exhibit his talents of painting and writing. Christy had alcohol dependence, as might be the case in Irish culture. To other disabled people this might project a false sense of control over situations by the use of alcohol. Socio-economic conditions were accurate to the early 1900s of Ireland, such as the man as the breadwinner, wife as the family caretaker, and large families in small houses with no family planning. Access to medicine, and equipment such as wheelchairs were not as affordable due to financial restraints. In any case, there is enough evidence that people with disabilities would develop alternative ways to over come the limitations to lead a normal life style in society.

In this movie review we will explain the portrayal, representation, and appropriateness of this movie on Cerebral palsy; perception of society towards people with this disability; and the laws that affect special education, services for students with disabilities and transition.

My Left Foot is very realistic in it's representation of Cerebral palsy. Infants with cerebral palsy are usually slow to reach developmental milestones such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, and walking (www.emedicinehealth.com). Christy Brown had no control over his body and was not able to reach any of the milestones. Individuals with Cerebral Palsy have limited ability to communicate and that is what happened to Christy Brown in the movie. He had difficulty to talk, excessive drooling which are very common symptoms. The only part of his body that is fully functioning was his left foot. Individuals with cerebral palsy are just like everyone and want to love and being loved by other family members and friends. Christy struggled to prove his family members that even though he is different from his siblings, he wanted the same attention and interaction from his family and friends. In the movie Christy's mother kept saving money for a wheelchair, while the father had no priority or initiation to buy one. In modern society there is much attention and involvement of both parents to seek all possible aspects of treatment.

The times Christy grew up, there was not much medical attention or education in society about this disability. There was a lot of frustration for Christy to express his feelings, and people did not take time to understand Christy, rather they ignored him. At times he was wrongly blamed and disciplined for others mistakes and misbehaviors. Also, Christy did not attend