Murderball

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Film Review 2

Murderball

A documentary film that focuses on the lives of disabled individuals that can do just as much as an able bodied person or even more. This film compares the social roles that individuals play in the Paralympics. It follows the United States rugby team winnings and defeats vs. Canada.  Quad-rugby was originally called murderball and this is a sport that is played with custom-built wheelchairs. The film covers three main individuals and their life stories about how they became disabled. It also covers many different stories about Team America.

By not only using the personal testimonies of individuals but also showing the viewer the game and each persons amazing story. This film argued the social view of a disabled person and how the able-bodied society portrays them. Society feels that being disabled is the worst thing that can ever happen. The individuals in this film show that they love how they are and hate that others feel the need to judge. An example of this would be a statement from Mark Zupan, “Fucking hit me, I’ll hit you back.” Equal opportunity is not given to disabled individuals and there is absolutely no reason why it can’t be given. This film covers most questions that people have towards disabled individuals. One of the most common questions asked was if they could have sexual intercourse. They took the myth that disabled individuals can’t have sex and went into detail explaining that they can still have intercourse.

Murderball relates to the course in many ways. The film talks about how being different against our social norms is okay. Talking about deviant bodies and how they are portrayed in an able-body society vs. disabled society. Many disabled individuals spoke about how they disliked people looking at them and treating them differently. “Disability can serve as a master status and can carry with it a stigma” (Taylor 2000).  This stigma not only discredits a person’s moral character but the individual is rejected by society.

Now what is so convincing about Murderball was the emotional affects that individuals have from being judge and dehumanized. Not everyone in a wheelchair wants to walk. The film talked about how disabled individuals are viewed as helpless, but in fact they are not and they do not want to be pitied.

One thing the film touched on was the stories of people Zupan spoke to in the hospital. I think it would be very interesting to hear how these people felt in the first year compared to there fifth year being a quadriplegics. To hear their story and relentless optimism they must have. Also, is it easier for a child to adapt or how life is affected for females. 

Citation: 

Taylor, "You're Not a Retard, You're Just Wise." February 2000