Early in Standout: The Ben Kjar Story, the mother of the film’s subject explains that being born with Crouzon syndrome means people will always notice and stare at him. She firmly states that what matters is what he chooses to do with that attention. Ben’s decision to remain positive, confident, ambitious, and compassionate shapes this documentary into an inspirational and deeply heartfelt experience.
Crouzon syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in which the skull bones prematurely fuse, affecting the shape of the head and face while also causing breathing issues, bulging eyes, and a smaller upper jaw. Ben endured numerous surgeries as a child and grew up looking noticeably different from his peers.
The documentary follows a familiar underdog narrative structure, but what elevates it is the opportunity to truly get to know Ben Kjar and the loving family and friends surrounding him. While the film often embraces a traditional talking-head documentary style, Ben’s charisma, humor, and vulnerability make the material consistently engaging. You can feel the deep passion and love from each family member, friend, and coach who shares their insight. The film also wisely avoids becoming overly solemn, incorporating playful clips from films like Spaceballs and cartoons like Mighty Mouse to emphasize points and reflect Ben’s upbeat personality.
The story explores the many challenges Ben faced, including bullying, ignorant comments from adults, and cruelty on social media. One of the film’s most emotionally effective moments comes when doctors warn that participating in sports could be dangerous for him. This becomes especially devastating because Ben develops a deep passion for Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling. Beyond his genetic condition, Ben also faces the reality of being physically smaller and, as one interview subject bluntly states, far from naturally athletic.
Ultimately, Standout becomes a story about perseverance, determination, and refusing to let limitations define identity. It also highlights Ben’s loyalty as a friend, his ability to inspire teammates, and his commitment to helping others through his own adversity. As someone who grew up undiagnosed with autism and ADHD, endured bullying, and often felt like an outsider, I found myself deeply connecting with Ben’s refusal to give up and his determination to remain hopeful. Standout is an inspirational and valuable resource for schools and libraries. Highly Recommended.
How can libraries and educators use this inspirational disability and resilience documentary?
Standout: The Ben Kjar Story would be a strong fit for library collections and educational programming focused on resilience, disability awareness, empathy, and anti-bullying initiatives. Ben’s story is accessible to a wide audience, and the documentary’s uplifting tone makes difficult subjects approachable without minimizing the challenges he faced. Because the film balances emotional honesty with humor and warmth, it can connect with younger viewers while still offering meaningful material for older students and adults.
At over 90 minutes, the documentary may be slightly long for a single classroom session. However, its narrative structure allows it to be easily divided into segments across multiple classes. The film opens the door to meaningful discussions surrounding bullying, judging others by appearance, family support, resilience, and overcoming adversity. Libraries, educators, and festival programmers could easily include Standout in collections focused on empathy, diversity, inclusion, and anti-bullying initiatives. Accessible to a wide age range, the documentary could encourage thoughtful discussions at elementary, secondary, and university levels alike.
Is this documentary a good choice for classroom screenings or community programming?
Yes. Teachers and librarians could use portions of the documentary to support conversations about bullying, disability, athletics, mental health, perseverance, or the impact of supportive communities. The film’s emotional accessibility and inspirational tone make it suitable for a broad range of age groups, while Ben’s charisma and optimism help keep the material consistently engaging.
For community screenings or library events, Standout would pair well with programming focused on inclusion, adaptive sports, motivational storytelling, or disability advocacy. The honesty surrounding Ben’s struggles prevents the documentary from feeling overly sentimental, and its emphasis on compassion, determination, and human connection gives it strong appeal for audiences seeking uplifting documentaries with meaningful real-world relevance.
Remember Films
Remember Films
Remember Films
Remember Films
Remember Films
Remember Films
Remember Films
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