PROFOUNDLY NORMAL

US, 2003, 96 minutes, Colour.
Kirstie Alley, Delroy Lindo, Rosemary Dunsmore.
Directed by Graeme Clifford.

Profoundly Normal is a fine telemovie, focusing on the true story of two mentally retarded people who have been friends in an institution, find that they have to live outside the institution when it is to be closed. The bonds between them lead to love and marriage – even though legislation prevents them from being married. They also experience a crisis when the woman becomes pregnant and authorities warn her about the possibility of her child being physically or mentally damaged.

The film is staunchly pro-life, pro-people who, despite their disabilities, are in the words of the title, profoundly normal. The film was directed by Australian Graeme Clifford (Frances, Burke and Wills) who worked from the 1990s in the US, mainly in television series and movies. The film was written by Paris Qualles, the writer of such socially conscious telemovies as The Rosa Parkes Story, A House Divided, The Colour of Friendship and The Tuskegee Airmen.

Kirstie Alley received something of a career slump after she put on a great deal of weight – and countered by starting a television series about an overweight actress trying to rekindle her career. She appeared in Cheers and other television series like Veronica’s Closet as well as many telemovies. She is matched with Delroy Lindo, a strong presence in such films as The Cider House Rules, Get Shorty and Wondrous Oblivion.

The film raises issues of respect for life, for people who are mentally impaired, for human rights for those who have not the capacity to manage life for themselves or find it difficult.

1.The title of the film? Reference to Donna and Ricardo? The definitions of normal?

2.The American settings, the institution and its way of life, life in apartments, work at Mc Donald’s…? Authentic atmosphere? Credible?

3.The interview technique, Donna and Ricardo being interviewed and telling the story of their lives, their son and his commenting on his mother and father? The interviews interspersed throughout the film?

4.The institution, the management, its being closed down – and the glimpses of physical and sexual abuse in the past? The nature of institutional life, for the staff, for management? For the residents, the regimentation of their lives, control, their taking orders? The sympathetic members of the staff like Charlotte?

5.The glimpses of Ricardo and Donna as children, their being put into the home, Donna being left by her mother, the foster people having to surrender her? Ricardo and his not knowing that the young silent girl was his sister? The glimpses of them in the institution as children, Donna and her friendship with Margaret, Margaret’s greater disabilities? The scene with Ricardo and the ball and the embrace of his sister? The sexual abuse sequence and the consequence for the funeral? Donna and her being in trouble, the harsh interrogation, the kindness of Charlotte?

6.The opening, Donna as an adult in the institution, her appearance, way of speaking, coping with life, her friendship with Margaret, Margaret’s disabilities and dependence on Donna? Ricardo in the kitchen, his talking with his fellow cook, the challenge to approach Donna? His kissing her hand, the encouragement of Charlotte and her introducing them?

7.The movies, watching the kissing of the hand, the bond between Ricardo and Donna? Their having to leave? Donna and the setting up of the apartment, her abilities, her trying to cook, the scenes in the supermarket, the party and her making the mustard balls? Margaret and her dependence, her fears, the tantrum in the supermarket, her not wanting to come out of her room, her fears when Ricardo was knocking on the door? Margaret and her eventually having to leave, her inability to cope? Her putting herself down? Donna and her being able to manage – although the difficulty of going to Mc Donald’s, not getting out at the right bus stop? Her work at Mc Donald’s – and Ricardo’s visit?

8.Donna and the freedom of the apartment, being able to build up her own life? Ricardo and his greater ability, to read? The flashback where he was asked whether he could name three cities – and his silence and nervousness? Yet his intelligence? His helping with the party?

9.Ricardo wanting to stay the night, Donna’s reaction, the proposal, seeing themselves as married? The applications for marriage, the discussions by the bureaucracy, Charlotte’s appeals, their being turned down? The decision to go ahead, the ceremony, Margaret and Charlotte present, the other friends from the institution?

10.Their memories of the honeymoon, Donna’s pregnancy? The training for birth, the effect on Donna? Her moods, not wanting Ricardo to go to his basketball match? Charlotte’s support? The discussions about the possibilities of illness for the child, the possibilities of abortion? Her choice to have the baby? The birth sequences?

11.Their son, growing up, his being part of the interviews? His perspective on his parents? His giving the statistics about one in ten children being retarded? His discussions with his father about exams and studies?

12.A film with a positive outlook on life, the quality of life for people who are in some ways impaired?