Page 29 - Community Living Magazine 33-4

book reviews
Small screen gems woman who changes the way he thinks

about his life. Starring Steven Brandon,
who gives a magnetic performance as Luke,
this is a thoughtful portrait of disability.

Le Huitième Jour (The 8th Day) (1996)
Available on DVD
This subtitled Belgian film is a comedy
drama that tells the story of the friendship
between Harry (Daniel Auteuil), a
divorced businessman, and George (Pascal
Duquenne), who he meets when he
nearly runs over him. George, who has
Down’s syndrome, has escaped from an
institution. The chemistry between the
Sitting comfortably? Tracey Harding recommends five excellent two leads is wonderful and the film is
feature films, a BAFTA-winning TV series and a radio drama that both funny and heartfelt.
you can access online or on DVD from your sofa
The A Word. Series 3 (2020)
Available on BBC iPlayer
Coming Down the Mountain (2007) Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) The third series of this BAFTA-winning
Available on Amazon Prime Amazon Prime, Google Play Movies, programme has been praised for its
This television film was written by Mark YouTube scripts and performances centred around
Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of After running away from a residential 10-year-old Joe who has autism, and the
the Dog in the Night-Time, and was first home to pursue his dream of becoming family and extended family that support
shown on the BBC. A drama about the a wrestler, Zak, a man with learning him. The series, however, is not just about
relationship between two brothers – disabilities, befriends ex-criminal Tyler (Shia autism; it is equally about the complicated
David, who is 15 years old (Nicholas Hoult) LeBeouf) who becomes his ally. A feelgood family relationships of the people around
and his slightly older brother Ben (Tommy adventure with outstanding performances Joe, with the emotion and traumas
Jessup) who has Down’s syndrome. David from all, especially Zack Gottsagen as Zak. entailed. There are six episodes in series 3
resents the attention his parents give to and the first two series are also available
his older brother and, when the family Sanctuary (2016) on BBC iPlayer.
moves from London to Derbyshire so Ben Available on Amazon Prime, Google Play
can attend a special school, David’s Movies, YouTube
resentment becomes all consuming, with A story of two people with learning
potentially dangerous consequences. disabilities who want to be together, which
explores with humour and sensitivity the
difficulties they face in their attempts to
parents themselves,” the chapter adds. form a relationship. The film highlights the
My one reservation is about the cover. I injustice of a now overturned Irish law
suspect the publishers thought a headless banning premarital sex for people with
woman holding a grey balloon would say learning disabilities. Lighthearted and
something about how intellectual disability funny, with a range of fine performances,
is perceived. I was just perplexed. it is definitely worth a watch.
As a child in the 1950s, I remember the Assisted Loving (2019)
secrecy and whispering about a local family My Feral Heart (2016) Available on BBC Sounds
whose “mentally handicapped” child was Available on YouTube, Google Play Movies, Finally, a recommendation for a radio
sent to an institution. I understood it was Amazon Prime show, originally broadcast on Radio 4.
something that brought shame on the family When his mother dies, Luke, a young man Assisted Loving follows Sui-Ling Tang
– it could only be seen as unfortunate. with Down’s syndrome, is forced to move navigating her way through the difficulties
When, in the 1980s, we discovered my into a care home. After sneaking out to that society has with the concept of
15-month-old daughter had a learning explore the countryside, he meets a young relationships between people with
disability, I had to deal with my own learning disabilities. She sets out
prejudices as well as those I was to to discover why love, sexual
encounter from others. relationships and romance are
Reading about the experiences of many still so taboo for these people.
With the help of author Kathy
thousands of people who have suffered
BBC; Zanzibar Films/Blue Teapot helped me understand the weight of those can decide whether someone has
greatly has been distressing, but it has
Lette, she looks at the laws that
prejudices; they are still around us, are
the capacity to consent to sex. n
universal and, as we know only too well,
there are many battles still to fight. n`
Left: the taboo-busting Sanctuary; top
and above: BBC drama The A Word
Clare Palmer
covers complex relationships
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 33 No 4 | Summer 2020 29