"Profoundly Normal": a Television Movie Above the Norm
By Barbara Kolucki (bakoluck@aol.com)
In February 2003, a quite abnormal TV program aired in the USA. "Profoundly Normal" was a "made for television movie" about two people who are mildly mentally retarded, fall in love and have a son. It is based on the real lives of "The Thornton Family" - Ricardo, Donna and Ricky - who spend a great deal of their time travelling around and explaining to others about their experience and lives.
Disabled actors in supporting roles
The movie's key roles are played by non-disabled actors, Kirstie Alley and Delroy Lindo. However, there are many disabled people in supporting roles. The film's story is interspersed with interview statements from the actors Ricardo, Donna and Ricky. This is where the most profound statements are made - and they seem to come from the real lives that are portrayed in the film.
When the production begins, Ricardo and Donna live in an institution. They are adults and we first see Ricardo's friends urging him to go talk with Donna because they know he likes her. He gets the courage and at first she is quite cool and aloof - but they eventually spend time together and fall in love.
The horrors of institutional life
The production alternates between the past and the present so we can understand and witness change. We are taken back at least 20 years to an earlier incarnation of the same "Forrest Haven" Institution. We see young children playing and walking around the grounds outdoors - and one particular little black girl who is crying out to a boy out of reach. Nothing calms her until he allows her to give him a hug. Near the end of the movie we learn that they are brother and sister - and she knows that but he does not at the time. This young girl is abused by one of the staff at the institution - and eventually dies an early death due to complications from rape and abuse. Her brother, Ricardo, visits her in the cemetery and remembers the young girl who reached out to him so many years ago.
Illustrating independent living
Back to Ricardo and Donna - now, we see them as adults when the institution is forced to close and they must become more independent. Donna has to get a job at a fast food restaurant and take a bus all alone. We watch her frightened, lost and finally learning the route. We see her and another friend get their first apartment together, go shopping for the first time alone, cooking and at least in Donna's case - loving the independence and freedom. Her friend, on the other hand, cannot adapt and adjust. We see her breaking down in a supermarket and on the street. And then, leaving the apartment to move to a a "assisted living" situation where she will be more supported and, one presumes, supervised..
We also see the discrimination and gradual adjustment of the community. At the supermarket, one checkout girl asks them "Are you welfare recipients?" "No", Donna answers, "we're retarded." And we witness co-workers at the fast food restaurant who at first ignore and later love and support Donna.
Growing a relationship
As their relationship grows, Ricardo asks Donna to marry him. Well, in actuality, he asks her first to sleep with him. When she refuses, he knows that he loves her and does not want to lose her - but is standing at the door. She says, "If you don't know what to say next, I think I hear the bus coming." He gets down on his knees and proposes - and then she says, "It is funny how some dreams you never have can come true."
Donna becomes pregnant and all is fine until very near the delivery. She is fighting with Ricardo, their caseworker, and finally she breaks down with fear and worry. She says "Is this baby gonna like me? My momma didn't like me.." Well, Ricky loves his parents and they are wonderful at parenting. They are playful, responsive and responsible. Some people are supportive - and others are cruel. They send letters calling the baby a mongrel. Ricardo throws them out saying "We don't need letters to tell us about ourselves."
Close-up view of parenting skills
From the moment Ricky is born, we see both parents teaching Ricky, helping with homework and loving him. And in one of the interview clips, Ricardo asks, "How do you raise a child who is smarter than you are. You are supposed to teach your children so many things. If you can't do that - are you still a good father?" Well - first of all, they did teach Ricky many things sometimes forgotten by other, brighter parents. And yes - they are most definitely good parents - which is obvious when one sees and listens to the real Ricky Thornton.
Viewers learn that when parents are intellectually impaired or retarded, only one out of ten children will be.
Good script, editing and acting
The script, editing and acting are very good. It is not overdone which can be the case in this genre of "made for television movies" about disability. Some of the interview clips with one of the three Thornton actors include:
"Profoundly retarded - they don't smile when they call you that."
"If you do things normal people do - that will make you normal - profoundly normal."
"I won't get married till I'm 60." And then "No one would want your old black ass when you are 60."
"We weren't trying to be an inspiration."
"When you lie on camera - you lie forever."
In addition to their retardation, Ricardo is black and Donna white. The film never mentions race as an obstacle - and non-disability media and non-disabled people could learn a great deal about how not to "hit us all over the head" with every difference as an obstacle.
Yes, the film had its' sentimental and too-cute moments. But it was very balanced. At the end, we meet the real Thornton family for a moment. My only criticism is about the caption written over their photo that says that the "Thornton's travel extensively to help people who suffer with mental disability." I didn't see this film portraying the suffering - rather the normality of the ups and downs of human life, the courage of two individuals and their profoundly normal yet unique lives.
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