Balla la mia canzone

I saw this film at the Telluride film festival in 98 or 99. This film has never left me. Making critical comments on this film is simply foolish. The director and Heather filmed this film over a 5 year period due to the physical limitations of the writer/actress. This was a labor of love and inspiration. This was a project that stunningly provides an impeccable vision into a kind of life that is led by some of our fellow human beings that the rest of us would prefer to deny. Some of the comments have indicated that they were uncomfortable or that they did not get it or they didn't not care for the gratuitous moments of the film. Well tough. This is reality, the pain of body, mind and spirit and the conquering of these trials by a monumental demonstration of power, creativity and fortitude that those of us defined as "normal" can not hope to understand or match. This film is a must see for any young person or adult who wants or needs an amazing reality check. This film is a vehicle to tell a story of freedom and unquenched intellect trapped but not surrendered.

It appears that previous reviewers have failed to pick up upon a central theme of this unique film. Why didn't Julia just get rid of Madeline, they say? ... cardboard characters and doesn't make any sense, they say ... must be because good housekeepers are hard to come by, they say.

Of course this is a crude simplification, and what they have missed is that Julia, despite her crippling physical disability, was able to empathise with Madeline's hopelessness and despair and through a sense of unreciprocated friendship and sense of duty, refused to cut the relationship short. This is evidenced in two key scenes: Firstly, in the initial abandonment scene, there is a lingering shot of the emergency button as Julia contemplates pressing it. Later, as a post date rape follow-up, Madeline cuddles Julia and looks to her for support in bed, where a careful eye should read the compassion in Julia's face. To me this exemplifies the most compelling aspect of the film, namely, Madeline, despite her good looks and seductive sexuality, was the emotional cripple juxtaposed with the warmth and love of life displayed by Julia.

This film has given me a new perspective ...

A remarkable film which stays with you long after you leave the theatre

I commonly feel that too much attention is paid to the semantics of what I consider to be "convenient designations" for complex conceptions (i.e. handicapped, disabled) but after reading various journal articles regarding the power of metaphorical language, I have come to pay much closer attention to the use of language. In the summary, the reviewer refers to Julia as being trapped inside of a twisted body. This opening statement struck me nearly as much as the opening scene of the movie. For someone to label a body as 'twisted' not only idealizes a certain conception of the physical body, but also disempowers any person with any type of physical disability or difference from the 'normal.' This metaphor devalues and insults human beings and at the same time sets up inescapable prison bars on the other side of which lie acceptance. This language is in fact powerful, and some metaphors are more than simply, "convenient designations."

Although quite difficult to watch because of some of the violence, it is a very realistic portrait of a young handicapped girl and her care-giver. Having taught children and adolescents with these kinds of handicaps, I and my wife were completely enthralled and could not leave our TV screen. Yes we winced at some of the violence and hoped for a good ending, but this is a must movie. Ironically, this kind or movie does not show up on English TV but was shown on Canada's French language "life" network! What a pleasure! An excellent picture. Oh, I forgot... the movie, even though shown on a French language network, was not dubbed, so if you wish to view this excellent picture, please watch "Aime-moi telle que je suis". An experience you won't forget!