Filmmaker Sarah Barton’s documentary chronicles the rise of the disabled rights movement, primarily focusing on endeavors in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Among the demographic groups seeking social and political equality, people with disabilities seem to face some of the greatest struggles. For too many years, those with severe disabilities were warehoused in institutions where the quality of care often ranged from dismal to horrifying. Even worse, those who claimed to advocate on behalf of these individuals often presented their subjects as objects of pity who could not care for themselves and needed the able-bodied to provide for their needs. The most notable example was the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethons hosted by Jerry Lewis, although similar telethons for British and Australian TV rivaled Lewis’s annual efforts both for tackiness and political incorrectness. People with disabilities also faced challenges in charting a course for their own lives, gaining employment, and enjoying access to public spaces. Barton offers a rich mix of interviews and archival footage from three different continents, noting the similarities faced in overcoming stereotypes and garnering respect in this universal fight that still continues. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Defiant Lives
(2017) 85 min. DVD: $89: public libraries; $395: colleges & universities. Women Make Movies. PPR. Volume 33, Issue 6
Defiant Lives
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: