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FILM & TELEVISION
From Casualty director Len Collin, and all the
people involved, can be

to Sanctuary justifiably proud.
The film premiered in Galway
in 2016 and has been
Tracey Harding is relieved to find a summer receiving rave reviews in
Ireland this summer but,
of good offerings. frustratingly, the release in
the UK has been put back to
t the start of the hospital. The brothers are is assisting in an illegal act. November. When I contacted
A summer, I was pessimistic reunited and Lee accepts that Meanwhile, Larry’s friends the Director, Len Collin he
about whether I would come he needs assistance to from the training centre explained that the problem
across any examples of film continue to care appropriately manage to get themselves with the film is that
and TV featuring actors with for his brother. Sam Barnard involved in some really “nobody expects the film to
learning disabilities. gave a great performance in funny escapades which are be any good… they think it
Although the summer is an episode that focussed on sensitively filmed, and aided will be worthy or just
renowned for being a slow the relationship between the by a soundtrack as diverse plain terrible”.
period for new television or brothers, and an optimistic as Bing Crosby and
film, I began to bemoan the future for them both. It was The Violent Femmes. As Len points out, because the
dire lack of opportunities good that the writers placed opposite is true it creates the
them in film and TV. the storyline as central to the Sanctuary has assisted in problem of how to market it.
episode rather than on altering legislation in Ireland; Whatever way that occurs,
Then, lo and behold, I found the periphery. in February 2017 the Criminal this is a film that needs to be
myself having too much to talk Law (Sexual Offences) Act that seen by as many people as
about, because an episode of Film can be used as a tool made it illegal in Ireland for possible, to highlight that
Casualty caught my eye, and a for change – Sanctuary people with Intellectual change can happen,
friend mentioned a film called shows us how. Disabilities to have sex and that people with
Sanctuary which turns out to Sanctuary: 2016. before marriage changed. learning disabilities are
be so fabulous, that I may Director: Len Collin. The influence of lobbying and extremely talented.
have to carry on talking about Writer: Christian O’Reilly. the poignant presentation of
it in the next issue! Stars: Stephen Marcus, informed choice and equality I look forward to sharing
Amy-Joyce Hastings in Sanctuary were in part more about the film in the
Casualty, As I mentioned, it is often responsible for this. That is next issue, when hopefully
(BBC1, 25 June 2017, difficult to find film that an achievement that film there will be news on the
episode 39) features actors with learning makers often aspire to, but opportunity for all of us in the
First, the current series of disabilities and when they do very seldom achieve, and the UK to see this remarkable film.
Casualty featured actor it can often be tokenistic or
Sam Barnard as Darren Tailor ‘preachy’. The film Sanctuary is
whose brother Lee is admitted like a breath of fresh air as the
to Accident and Emergency. cast are almost entirely made
Sam has Down’s syndrome and up of actors with learning
has previously been seen in disabilities. With the tag line
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, ‘Never let love pass you by’,
and has appeared on the it is a delightful love story
Channel 4 reality programme set in Galway, Ireland.
The Undateables. In this The story is an adaptation
episode, Lee has been involved of an original play by
in an accident in a factory, Blue Teapot Theatre Company,
and it later transpires that the an ensemble of adults with
accident happens because they learning disabilities.
have been stripping cables to
sell for food supplies. In essence the story is about
Larry and Sophie who are in
Lee has been supporting his love, but Larry has Down’s
brother since the death of his syndrome and Sophie has
mother but has not told Darren epilepsy, and associated
Sanctuary is like a breath of fresh air as the
that their mother is dead but tremors. When Larry “
that she is ‘on holiday’. approaches his care worker cast are almost entirely made up of actors with
When Lee tells Darren the Tom to book them into a learning disabilities. With the tag line
truth, Darren is distraught hotel with the intent of
and goes home where he consummating the ‘Never let love pass you by’, it is a delightful
accidentally drinks anti-freeze relationship, Tom wrestles love story set in Galway, Ireland.
and is admitted back into the with the request, because he ”

28 Vol 31 No 1 | Autumn 2017 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk