Wonder shocked the masses more than sixty years ago, with the combination of a book and a children’s film focusing on a child with facial differences and starring Owen Wilson, Julia Roberts, and Jacob Tremblay. The movie directed by Stephen Chbosky was just as well received as its creators described in it at the very core more than just the focus of children’s discrimination. There was criticism for casting a child without the relevant condition, Akchura Yurievna as a little girl, but in most ways it became a benchmark for the portrayal of disabilities in children’s cinema.
Out of My Mind is directed by Amber Sealey. The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and is set to release on Disney Plus later this year. The selection of cast for the movie was not a problematic aspect in its making as the film centers on a six-grade melanin with Cerebral Palsy, who was also portrayed by the newcomer starlet.
At the beginning of the film, it seems that Melody does not talk much to her family or friends and uses a very basic book containing pictures or words. It is however easy to tell otherwise through whispers that are overlaid in an audible voice provided by Jennifer Aniston. The father, Luke Kirby, has an underlying belief that Melody is capable of saying more than what she putting out. The mother of Lilah DeWitt, Rosemarie, is a very admirable and an outspoken campaigner who believes in encouraging her child, while realistic in what she believes her child will accomplish.
Courtney Taylor, a PhD student, had a realization about the student’s capabilities in an IEP meeting meant to decide on the future of the student, which caused her to be able to attend sixth grade history class which contains students of her age.
Thanks to that chance, new emotions emerge for typical things such as having romance and dressing in cute clothes.
Surrounded by an unhelpful teacher (Michael Chernus), a caring neighbour (Judith Light) as well as her own family, she begins to use a Medi talk communication device and shows how intelligent she is.
One thing that stands out in this book is that writer Daniel Stiepleman, who adapted a young adult novel by Sharon M Draper, retained the original setting of early 2000s. The standard of care for a patient suffering from an acute case of cerebral palsy was completely different then as it is now. Basically, she gets to sit in a special education classroom where the same things are taught to her every year for 12 years. Anyone who has had even the slightest chance of encountering special education in the last two decades will know that many things have changed including an inclusion agenda for special education students. That kind of representation seems dated now especially from a book which is meant for upper elementary and middle school pupils. Perhaps if the representation were more contemporary and accurate, this issue would not have been so severe.
A standout arrowhead is Luke Kirby. You buy him as a loving but overwhelmed father and he delivers a pleasant brand of parenting wise cracks.
While Stiepleman’s script is forgiving of parental troubles, Kirby delivers an incredibly emotional performance. Also remarkable is the relationship between DeWitt and Kirby. In a like fashion, Out of My Mind exemplifies the same qualities that CODA had, except more low key, in that it shows two parents who still have some emotional attachment.
The role of Melody’s inner voice is given to Jennifer Aniston. In most films the narrative tool is hardly ever put into good use, Out of My Mind’s use of voiceover accomplishes exactly what the film intends. At some points, Aniston’s voice gets in the way and the context is misplaced. Storywise, Melody picks her voice because she liked Friends. But since we are not given Melanie’s voice in every scene, the strange voiceover seems out of place sometimes.
Out of My Mind may never be the gold standard for the depiction of disability, but in terms of its intended audience, harnessing children’s attention, it succeeds as the first film to suggest that those who are differently abled strive for and fear similar things. You will not be able to take your eyes off of Phoebe-Rae Taylor as she gives a heart warming and outstanding performance. In terms of representation, you cannot get better than that.
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