Introduction
The movie I am Sam by Jessie Nelson depicts a challenging period in the life of a person with autistic spectrum disorder. This individual becomes a single father, yet a worker from the Department of Child and Family Services takes note of his situation and doubts his ability to participate in Lucy’s upbringing efficiently (Nelson, 2001). The film handles the subject of discrimination against people with cognitive impairments well, yet it lacks the same depth in regard to multicultural diversity.
Personal Reactions to the Movie
After watching the movie, I was relieved that the main character of the story was allowed to protect his parenting rights, although I understood where the concerns of the child protection services were coming from. I thought that the depictions of Sam’s behavior could have been handled with less emphasis on his disability, although it provided a solid counterpoint to the reactions of people around him to his actions. Olkin (2022) highlights that it is the environment that leads to “the handicaps and barriers” in an individual’s life (para. 5). Thus, Sam’s behavior was not the root of the problem but the reaction to it from others that caused the rift that nearly tore the family apart.
I also noticed strong support provided to Sam by the group of his friends, who also have cognitive impairments. This small community possessed a strong bond over a common issue and contributed to each other’s well-being by providing socialization and assistance in critical times (Nelson, 2001). Their willingness to support Sam in court throughout the entire ordeal shown in the film highlights the importance of relatability to one’s daily challenges.
The article by Dunn (2021) reveals how people participating in the trial were looking at the situation from “ableist thinking” and “drawing false conclusions […] in discriminatory ways”, which marginalized Sam and his friends’ capabilities (para. 6). Two vital aspects in this film are the court proceedings and the decision regarding Lucy’s development. Dunn (2022) writes that “disability only becomes salient to a disabled person when some aspect of the environment […] makes it so” (para. 1). This notion matches the exact situation occurring on screen, pushing Sam and his daughter to fight against the system.
Film Analysis in Relation to Multicultural Diversity
The movie’s cast lacks racial and cultural diversity, as the film was released in 2001. There are only a few scenes that include non-White cast members. In the scene where Sam is arrested and brought to the police department, a Black child is sitting next to him due to getting in trouble as well (Nelson, 2001, 00:24:07-00:24:26).
Another person of color presented in the film is Margaret Calgrove, whose point of view on Sam’s behavior causes the central conflict in the story. She is depicted as callous and judgmental, as her position on Sam does not change throughout the plot (Nelson, 2001). Thus, the movie provides an unsatisfactory degree of insight into the challenges linked to multicultural perceptions on the main subject of this work.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I am Sam depicts the discrimination of a person with cognitive impairment, highlighting the attitudes of other people to their behavior and how this judgment can ruin one’s life. Persons with disabilities are shown to be passionate and emotional, challenging the audience’s views, which may be biased toward such individuals. At the same time, the movie fails to portray the issue from a multicultural standpoint, instead using people of color as antagonists or fitting them into racial stereotypes.
References
Dunn, D. S. (2021). Understanding ableism and negative reactions to disability. American Psychological Association. Web.
Dunn, D. S. (2022). Changing attitudes towards disability. American Psychological Association. Web.
Nelson, J. (Director). (2001). I am Sam [Film]. New Line Cinema.
Olkin, R. (2022). Conceptualizing disability: Three models of disability. American Psychological Association. Web.