Films involving Learning Difficulties

Learning Difficulties (Mental Retardation): Major Films no photo.

Title	Broken Cord, The (1992) (TV Film)
Alternative/Original Title
Disability	Learning Difficulty
Country	USA
Length	?
Genre	Drama
Rating	3
Director	Ken Olin
Cast	Jimmy Smits Kim Delaney Michael Spears Fredrick Leader-Charge Frank Burning
Notes	Set in Alaska 1972. Jimmy Smits plays a professor of anthropology who wants to adopt child. He isn't married because as he says he hasn't found the right woman. The film may be set in 1972 when such an adoption might be possible. The criteria for adoption don't appear too rigorous. The child is a 4 year old Indian boy with mental retardation. Adam, the child, also has a seizure, lesion on brain, beginning of spinal curvature. His condition results from his mother being an alcoholic. Adam goes to school and this results in a fight against the school system who classify him as learning disabled. Smits comes over as a bit of a hero. One woman he has an affair with leaves because he's too committed to boy. After a year he meets another woman who might just be that 'right' woman. The film follows Adam from 4 years old through to his teenage age years. And I didn't find the film had much dramatic impact. It's clearly of the 'based on a true story' genre and doesn't feel obliged to make an effort at getting the viewer involved.

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