Dance Me To My Song Australia, 1998 Running Time: 1:45 Rating: Nudity, sex, mature themes Language: English Director: Rolf de Heer Suggested Donation: $5 When: Wednesday, September 5 Time: 6:30 to 10pm.  Screening starts promptly at 7pm. Where: DCTV @ The Firehouse 3rd Floor Screening Room 87 Lafayette St (between Walker & White) Closest subway stops: N/Q/R/W, J/M/Z, or 6 to Canal Street.  DCTV is located two blocks South of Canal Street in NYC. VIEW MAP Cost: $5 Suggested Donation

The disTHIS! Film Series is a project of the Disabilities Network of NYC in association with DCTV. We are made possible, in part, by the generous support of The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

Previous Screenings

"Dance Me to My Song" had people crowding the aisles of its extra screenings at the Cannes Film Festival. It's easy to see why. "Song" is remarkable for its no-holds-barred portrayal of the daily life of a disabled person and the ultimately positive -- yet uncliched -- note on which the movie ends.  The plot centers around a skewed love triangle between disabled protagonist Julia (Heather Rose), her abusive caregiver Madeline (Joel Kennedy) and a handsome mystery man (John Brumpton).
 
The movie’s brilliance lies in showing life with a disability isn’t restricted to difficulties going to the bathroom and getting around; it also involves loneliness, love and -- at times -- lust.

”Song” begins with Julia stark naked in her wheelchair, being attended to by her caregiver, Madelaine. Far from being gratuitous, the nudity immediately drives home Julia's vulnerability. Her caregiver, the self-absorbed Madelaine, turns out to be a nightmare. Solicitous of Julia at one moment, cruel and physically abusive the next, Madelaine is obsessed with finding a man, and the quest makes her miserable. She brings a boyfriend to Julia's house, where she places dark glasses on Julia, then goes into her bedroom to have sex.
 
It doesn’t let up from there...
 
Reviewer James Berardinelli writes that many of the themes examined in the higher profile film, "The Theory of Flight" starring Kenneth Branagh and Helena Bonham-Carter are also explored in “Song.” Perhaps film critic Roger Ebert described the differences between the movies best in his review, "Two movies. Same story. Same objective. Similar characters. Similar situation. One is an entertainment. The other is a thunderbolt."   

There's no doubt which is which.   

The Telluride Film Festival's description of "Song" reads: 

Rolf de Heer’s "Dance Me to My Song," is an extraordinary Australian work written by Heather Rose, who also stars in it—even though she has cerebral palsy, and communicates through a computer and a speaking machine. As the film opens, she’s at the mercy of a stupid and cruel "care giver" who neglects and insults her. Using her motorized wheelchair and her lively intelligence, she tries to figure a way out of her dilemma. In the opening shot, the heroine seems hopeless and alien. By the end, we identify more with her than with the normals in the story.

Not to be missed! Our ever-popular, ever rousing audience discussion will take place following the screening!
 
Awards & Recognitions

• Awarded the 1998 Australian Catholic Film Award
• Film Critics Circle of Australia: Nominated for Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress (Heather Rose) and Best Supporting Actress (Rena Owen)
• Awarded the Premier's Literary Award Script Writing Prize, New South Wales

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