OUT OF MY MIND at Woodstock Film Festival

by Jackie Hanzl, Made with Jackie Hanzl

Out of My Mind is adapted from the New York Times bestseller of the same title by Sharon M. Draper. Directed by Amber Sealy, starring newcomer, Phoebe-Rae Taylor, and Rosemarie DeWitt ( La La Land, Rachel Getting Married) along with Emmy winners Luke Kirby ( The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Take This Waltz) and Judith Light. Phoebe-Rae Taylor, an actor with cerebral palsy, stars as Melody Brooks, a 12-year-old 6th grader. Due to Melody’s CP, she is unable to walk, talk, feed herself, bathe herself, or go to the bathroom by herself, and she uses an electric wheelchair. Jennifer Aniston narrates the film as the imagined voice of Melody, submerging us into Melody’s world, allowing the audience to experience her frustration of being underestimated and unheard.

Melody’s life changes when an educator who works at the local university, Dr. Katherine Post played by Courtney Taylor ( Insecure, Abbott Elementary) offers her an opportunity to mainstream into a general education classroom. However, this opportunity doesn’t come without a fight from the principal and general education teacher.

Melody’s frustration is real, raw, and heartbreaking. We get to be in the mind of a typical 12 year-old, who is feeling all the emotions of being a 12 year-old girl, but cannot express them nor have the chance to experience all the things a typical 12 year-old does. Phoebe’s depiction of Melody breaks your heart and puts it back together with both sad and happy tears.

Out of My Mind is a film about self-advocacy, seeing beyond appearances, and raising awareness of rights for people with disabilities. It is a must-see for all ages.

Out of My Mind will be streaming on Disney on November 22nd.

Originally published at http://behindtherabbitproductions.wordpress.com on October 29, 2024.