MANILA, Philippines—Once in a while, we come across movies that herald the triumph of the human spirit over adversity and tragedy. Here are some movies that deal with overcoming one’s physical handicap:
“Lorenzo’s Oil” (1992) is about Lorenzo Odone and his parents (Susan Sarandon and Nick Nolte), who untiringly search for a cure for his rare disease. As they see their child waste away, they continually face the skepticism of doctors. But, their efforts finally pay off when they chance upon a therapy that uses olive oil as an active curative agent.
“Philadelphia” (1993) tells the true story of Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks), a gay lawyer who is fired by a large law firm in Philadelphia after his bosses find out he has AIDS. In court, Beckett is awarded punitive damages on grounds of discrimination. Also starring Denzel Washington as Beckett’s lawyer, the movie examines the negative public perception of people with HIV and AIDS, and tackles homosexuality and homophobia.
True story
“A Beautiful Mind” is the true story of math genius and Nobel Prize winner, John Forbes Nash Jr. (Russell Crowe), who was able to solve problems that overwhelmed even the most brilliant mathematicians. It depicts how he overcame immense suffering while battling schizophrenia. With the help of his wife (Jennifer Connelly), he recovered, went back to teaching and was later awarded the Nobel Prize.
“A Brief History of Time” (1991) is a documentary about the life and work of Stephen Hawking, a physicist afflicted with the life-threatening neurological disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Hawking lost the ability to use his arms, legs and voice, leaving him almost completely paralyzed and wheelchair-bound. Despite his severe disability, the physicist was eventually recognized by the scientific community for his contributions to cosmology and quantum gravity.
The most inspiring aspect of Hawking’s disability-ridden life is his healthy disposition and outlook: He observes, “I was unlucky to get a motor neuron disease, but I’m lucky in almost everything else. I have three very attractive children, success in my scientific work, and a real sense of satisfaction at having achieved all of this, despite the difficulties!”
