Short person gets axed from movie
- 18 Jul 05, 12:00 AM
Here's a truly shocking story from the Telegraph, sent to us by Ouch's very own Liz Main. Under the headline , the report reveals that a remake of the classic British movie Don't Look Now is to drop its most crucial character: a terrifying, "knife-wielding dwarf".
What is the reason for this dreadful omission? Well, the producers of the remake believe that "the dwarf is not frightening enough for a modern audience" and is "too old-fashioned".
Crippled Monkey finds himself unable to decide whether this is a step forward - disabled people are no longer frightening to audiences! - or a step back - we're too old fashioend! And we can't play nasty characters because we're not scary enough! Damn. Can't win with this one.
Scariest disabled character of all - Davros, leader of the Daleks - was unavailable to comment when Ouch tried to contact him for his opinion about this news.
Comments
If it's an effort to avoid stereotypical representation of Little People and other Disabled people as ciphers for evil, then I applaud it.
Exterminate!
i suppose it's a question of inclusion isn't it? All of us disabled people aren't scary we are all indidivual in our opinions, thoughts, and feelings. We used to be viewed as frightening long ago, but society is beginning to accept us for who we are.
Anyone else going to see Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory this weekend? Can the little people of Oompa Lumpa land read Ouch? And isn't Chris Page so intense!
I wouldn't say intense - it's more a realisation of the subtle and not so subtle messages that are sent out by characterisations of Disabled people in the media and performing arts.