Films involving Limb & Spinal Conditions

Limb & Spinal Conditions: Major Films

Title	Coming Home (1978)
Alternative/Original Title
Disability	Limb Paraplegia
Country	USA
Length	127
Genre	War
Rating	4
Director	Hal Ashby
Cast	Jane Fonda Jon Voight Bruce Dern Robert Carradine
Notes	This is a film about the effect of war on those who don't go to war, about Jane Fonda's character, Sally Hyde. Married to a good looking marine who is sent to Vietnam she falls in love with a paraplegic veteran of that war, Luke (Jon Voight). Through that relationship with the bitter, angry Luke she changes from the mild, conforming housewife to someone more mature and independent. Luke also changes, becoming less angry with himself and more angry with the war itself. His great desire to make love to Sally is eventually fulfilled (and fulfilled in cinema terms too) though Sally is still resolved not to desert her husband. The husband returning, himself injured (self-inflicted), and the difficulty he has coping with her unfaithfulness spoil the end of the film but we are likely to be emotionally carried along with the characters not to notice this too much. This is not the easiest of films to watch because it tackles the issues of severe disablement head on from the moment when Sally crashes into Luke and his urine bag spills in front of them. Because of this, along with the fine acting, and despite some melodramatic moments this is a film which shows it as it is including the sex thing. And perhaps the first film to do so. There is much more. The role of the F.B.I. in monitoring protest movements, the change in Sally's husband after his exposure to Vietnam, his failure to come to terms with change (he commits suicide). What may turn some off is the film's desire to preach. It is certainly an antiwar film. But beyond the disability factor the film reveals a genuine friendship between a man and a woman which would be interesting even outside the hospital.

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