As you may have noticed in my interview with Karen (here), I believe there are those who love the dream of Paris, and those who know and love real Paris - and in particular about the people we never think of in our romantic visions of the beautiful city. Earlier this year I had the chance to see a couple of movies during the Alliance Francais French Film festival. This movie was a stand out for me. I loved it.
Hors Normes or The Extraordinary - ( or in other parts of the world I think its called The Specials ). It was made by the same directors who made the totally awesome movie, The Untouchables.
The story is based on a true story. For twenty years, Bruno and Malik have lived in a different world—the world of autistic children and teens. In charge of two separate non-profit organizations (The Hatch & The Shelter), they train young people from underprivileged areas to be caregivers for extreme cases that have been refused by all other institutions. It’s an exceptional partnership, outside of traditional settings, for some quite extraordinary characters. [ref:]
Why this movie touched me? my cousin is profoundly autistic, and is lucky to live in a country where our social welfare system supports those who need care. Our taxpayers expect the system to care for these people. But this movie shows the reality facing families and communities with the extraordinary struggle of caring people people who need extra help... and the extra ordinary people who provide that care even when the system doesn't....
For Paris in July, I have been looking to a charity in Paris that I could donate to .. and in my searching I found these in-depth analysis of the history of support and advocacy for people living with disabilities in France. The disadvantaged in any society are disadvantaged by our mainstream focus on 'normal'... I'm happy to be stretched beyond the normal.
- https://www.sjdr.se/articles/10.1080/15017410701680506/
- https://autism-advantage.com/autism-in-france.html
- https://inspirelle.com/charities-in-paris-how-to-help-people-in-need-over-the-festive-season/
This sounds like a very moving film and one everyone should see. Autism has become more and more commonplace but so many still don't understand. Thanks for sharing this one.
ReplyDeleteImportant when a film can reach you personally...
ReplyDeletethanks so much for sharing the links for charities, we can
all do our part to help.
Hors normes - "The Special" -I tried to find this one here on NL
but no luck!
Les misérables (2019) by director Ladj Ly is next on my French film list.
It won the festival de Cannes Prix du Jury 2019.
It is going to be a difficult watch
... about the dangerous underworld of Paris where
tensions between the different groups (gangs)
mark the rhythm. Part of Paris the normal tourist never sees.
circumstances in "les banlieus" Paris.
Wonderful. I will look for this one.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. I'll have to look for it. My son in on the autism spectrum and being in this sphere has brought into sharp focus what we as a country are doing right and what we need to be better. Gage is on the milder end in most ways, but those early years were full of interventions.
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