March is Disability Awareness Month, and one of my favorite ways to explore important social topics is through film. As an Economics major, I’m always thinking about how systems such as healthcare, education, and employment shape people’s opportunities. Movies often bring those big ideas down to a human level by showing how people navigate challenges in their daily lives.
At the IU Media Center, there are several films that portray disability in thoughtful and powerful ways. These stories highlight not only the personal experiences of people with disabilities, but also the social and economic barriers they may face.
My Left Foot (1989)
My Left Foot tells the true story of Christy Brown, an Irish writer and artist born with cerebral palsy who could only control his left foot. What makes the story so powerful is the way it shows how determination, support, and opportunity can change someone’s life. One of the most memorable moments comes when Christy defiantly declares, “I’m not stupid!” a line that captures how often people with disabilities have to fight against unfair stereotypes. Watching this film made me think about how access to education and support can make all the difference in someone’s ability to succeed.
Still Alice (2014)
In Still Alice, Julianne Moore plays Alice Howland, a respected linguistics professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The film is both heartbreaking and deeply human as Alice tries to hold onto her sense of identity while her memory fades. In a powerful speech she says, “I wish I had cancer… because then I’d feel like people understood.” The quote reflects the invisible nature of some disabilities and how isolating that can be. From an economics perspective, it also reminds us how diseases like Alzheimer’s can impact careers, families, and long-term financial planning.
Sound of Metal (2019)
Sound of Metal follows Ruben, a drummer whose life is turned upside down when he suddenly loses his hearing. As he enters a Deaf recovery community, he struggles to accept a completely different way of living. One line that stuck with me comes from the program leader Joe, who tells Ruben, “All this time, I thought I was lost. But I wasn’t.” The film raises interesting questions about identity, accessibility, and the cost of medical choices like cochlear implants. It also shows that disability isn’t always something that needs to be “fixed” sometimes it’s about learning to adapt and finding a new sense of belonging.
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
This film might be the most lighthearted on the list, but it still carries an important message. The Peanut Butter Falcon follows Zak, a young man with Down syndrome who escapes a care facility to chase his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. His determination is summed up in one of the film’s best lines: “I’m going to be a professional wrestler.” The movie is funny, adventurous, and full of heart, but it also quietly challenges the limits society sometimes places on people with disabilities.
Why These Stories Matter
What I appreciate most about these films is that they show people with disabilities as full, complex individuals with ambitions, frustrations, and dreams. As someone studying economics, I’m also reminded that many challenges people face aren’t just personal—they’re structural. Access to healthcare, supportive communities, and inclusive workplaces can dramatically change someone’s opportunities and quality of life.
Film gives us a way to see those realities through someone else’s perspective. During Disability Awareness Month, these movies are a great starting point for thinking about inclusion, representation, and the systems that shape opportunity.
If you’re interested, stop by the IU Media Center and check out one of these films. You might walk away entertained, but also with a new and important perspective.
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