Sometimes a movie grabs your heartstrings and will stick with you. I fully admit that I’m not the biggest movie buff on the planet. In fact, it takes a lot of convincing for me to sit and watch a movie. Why? Sitting still is difficult for me because I always feel that I need to be doing something. However, I’m very happy to say that seeing the movie, “The Greatest Showman,” is not something I regret or will forget.
The Greatest Showman is about the life of PT Barnum who is the founder of Barnum and Bailey Circus. The circus has recently retired in the past years, but the story behind the circus lives on. I remember seeing the previews for it but forgot to go see the movie with all the holiday activities. When my husband asked me to go with him last week, I said yes. Neither of us knew exactly what we were getting into, but we were both pleasantly surprised.
Actor Hugh Jackman’s acting and singing made me quickly know why he was nominated for a Golden Globe. He starred as PT Barnum. From the first second of the movie, I felt entertained, excited and interested. Jackman fit the part perfectly, and one could easily believe he was PT Barnum. The music alone will sweep you off your feet.
As a woman who has cerebral palsy, The Greatest Showman, resonates to me with the theme of embracing your differences. From the beginning of the movie, someone who has a disability is presented positively by a woman who has a deformity doing a kind act and appeared happy to do so. I can’t tell you how nice it is to see a movie portray someone, anyone even who is different, in a positive way.
Barnum seemed to be intrigued by the unusual. Unfortunately, in the early 1880s, acceptance of any kind of difference seemed far and in between. He took a gamble that people would pay to be entertained by the unusual, but first, he needed to convince the people who had differences that they should be involved in the show.
All the people who had challenges have excellent stories, but three stuck out to me throughout the movie. First, a man in his twenties who is a little person that lived in hiding with his mom because of being little. A woman who has a beard that worked but always hid her face despite her amazing singing voice. And, a woman who is a talented trapeze artist who happens to be African American in a time of racism.
None of these people could change who they were born to be even if they wanted to change. However, they were all courageous to step forward and show the world who they really are – talented, creative people. In fact, the Golden Globe winning song, “This Is Me,” sums up everything the disability community has tried to convey to society.
No matter who you are, and how different you might be, you have the right to be the person that you were meant to be. I have cerebral palsy and had dealt with being stared at, made fun of, being told that I’m not good enough, being mocked and disrespected. It isn’t easy to push that negativity aside and be who you were meant to be regardless. I succeeded even though the challenge continues, but I know who I want to be and am.
The Greatest Showman isn’t only very entertaining, but uplifting to see others rise to their up most courage. I highly recommend this movie to everyone, but especially if you’re feeling a need for a little boost of morale.
originally posted on cerebral palsy news today by Jessica Grono
