Special People (film)

Plot

Enlisted to teach a class of wheelchair-users about filmmaking, the neurotic Jasper gets a little more than he bargained for. His charges seem to know more than he does about his subject; they're not impressed by his own heartfelt social realist oeuvre; and they meet his every suggestion with the blank indifference peculiar to the streetwise adolescent. Questions condescending outreach projects, self-defeating attitudes within the disabled community, and the vacuity of the film business - all with a sly wink and a healthy helping of self-parody

Cast

Production

Special People, Directed by Justin Edgar for 104 Films. Filmed on location in Birmingham UK and the Malven Hills UK.

Release

Released on 21 November 2008 (UK) Special People attracted National press with the BBFC classifying the film as a 12A for "moderate sex references, language, violence and disability theme." Sparking criticism from cast and Disability groups that audiences should not have to be warned that a film has a disability theme.

Reception

Special People garnered widespread critical acclaim from critics and has a "certified fresh" score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus states "Low budget British comedy which is sharply written and nicely acted whilst confounding disability misconceptions and prejudices on the way." On its release The Guardian hailed Special People as "A milestone in mainstream cinema" for its use of disabled cast. The Radio Times called it " A triumph of understated, heartfelt humour" and the Daily Mirror "A little gem"