Right Footed

Jessica Cox lives a life like most Americans, from attending school to driving a car. The difference is that this Tucson native only uses her feet, since she was born without arms. Her mother, Inez, who emigrated from the Philippines, acknowledges that she was depressed after Jessica was born—she felt as if she had done something wrong. Jessica herself admits that she was an angry, frustrated child; school meant overprotective teachers and insulting classmates, but dance and martial arts gave her confidence (although prosthetics only made life more difficult, so she stopped using them). After graduating from the University of Arizona, Jessica became a motivational speaker, and in Nick Spark's Right Footed she is seen speaking in the U.S., Ethiopia, and the Philippines (as well as Addis Ababa, which is particularly moving since so many disabled citizens there lack her support system). In 2005, a Rotary Club member invited Jessica for a trip in a single-engine plane, which encouraged her to become a pilot. While her instructors were enthusiastic, it took three years to find a plane in which she could fly solo (her maiden voyage went well, even though she lost radio contact). The media caught on, and she met President Obama and made several TV appearances. Jessica met her husband, Patrick Chamberlain, when she took his Taekwondo class, and they marry during the course of filming. Although built around one person, this documentary is more about disability advocacy, serving up realistic, non-sentimental uplift. Extras include deleted scenes. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)