Biff_Loman
20 Mar 2005, 08:57 AM
It's too bad that more people don't interact with individuals with acquired brain injuries more often. If they did, we'd probably have more (any?) comedy movies about brain damaged people.*
I work with brain damaged people, and there is a wealth of comedic potential. Consider an incident a co-worker related to me:
A man who was blinded by his injury was trying to maneuver his way through a room, when another man in a wheelchair bumped his cane with his wheel. This was completely unintentional, but the blind man cannot stand having anyone f--- with him or his cane when he's walking. He swung his cane in a large arc and struck the wheelchair bound man in the head.
Now, you have to understand that many brain-injured individuals who use a wheelchair have balance problems and can usually control their limbs - they just can't walk. This being the case, they aren't actually confined to the wheelchair, per se, and can sometimes surprise you. The man leaped out of his chair and punched the blind man in the nose so hard that blood splattered on the wall.
Now, if most of you saw this in a movie you'd probably think: 1) It's so tragic that these men have their lives ruined by their injuries, and 2) that is so exploitative of individuals with severe behavioural, perception, and motor problems. BUT: since this is the world in which I live, that kind of thing is freakin' hilarious.
Of course, such a comedy would have as much potential to be touching as any other film. While some of the individuals spend all their time screaming at you, others are genuinely concerned and helpful. If anything, I think that such a film could raise awareness for what it's like to live with a brain injury.
Mainly, though, I wish such a film would be made so that I could laugh and laugh.
*I wouldn't say that 50 First Dates counts, since her behaviour is completely unlike actual individuals with brain injuries.
I work with brain damaged people, and there is a wealth of comedic potential. Consider an incident a co-worker related to me:
A man who was blinded by his injury was trying to maneuver his way through a room, when another man in a wheelchair bumped his cane with his wheel. This was completely unintentional, but the blind man cannot stand having anyone f--- with him or his cane when he's walking. He swung his cane in a large arc and struck the wheelchair bound man in the head.
Now, you have to understand that many brain-injured individuals who use a wheelchair have balance problems and can usually control their limbs - they just can't walk. This being the case, they aren't actually confined to the wheelchair, per se, and can sometimes surprise you. The man leaped out of his chair and punched the blind man in the nose so hard that blood splattered on the wall.
Now, if most of you saw this in a movie you'd probably think: 1) It's so tragic that these men have their lives ruined by their injuries, and 2) that is so exploitative of individuals with severe behavioural, perception, and motor problems. BUT: since this is the world in which I live, that kind of thing is freakin' hilarious.
Of course, such a comedy would have as much potential to be touching as any other film. While some of the individuals spend all their time screaming at you, others are genuinely concerned and helpful. If anything, I think that such a film could raise awareness for what it's like to live with a brain injury.
Mainly, though, I wish such a film would be made so that I could laugh and laugh.
*I wouldn't say that 50 First Dates counts, since her behaviour is completely unlike actual individuals with brain injuries.