Special People
Directed byJustin Edgar
Written byJustin Edgar
Produced byAlex Usborne
StarringJason Maza
David Proud
Dominic Coleman
Sasha Hardway
Robyn Frampton
Simon Lowe
CinematographyZac Nicholson
Edited byMark Burgess
Music byKim Humphrey
Release dates
  • 21 August 2007 (2007-08-21) (Edinburgh International Film Festival)
  • 21 November 2008 (2008-11-21) (United Kingdom)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Special People is a 2007 British film was directed by Justin Edgar for 104 Films. The film received widespread press coverage as a result of censorship of its disability themes.[1]

Plot

Enlisted to teach a class of wheelchair-users about filmmaking, the neurotic Jasper gets a little more than he bargained for. His charges seem to know more than he does about his subject; they're not impressed by his own heartfelt social realist oeuvre; and they meet his every suggestion with the blank indifference peculiar to the streetwise adolescent. Questions condescending outreach projects, self-defeating attitudes within the disabled community, and the vacuity of the film business - all with a sly wink and a healthy helping of self-parody

Cast

Production

Special People, Directed by Justin Edgar for 104 Films. Filmed on location in Birmingham UK and the Malven Hills UK.

Release

Released on 21 November 2008 (UK) Special People attracted National press with the BBFC classifying the film as a 12A for "moderate sex references, language, violence and disability theme." Sparking criticism from cast and Disability groups that audiences should not have to be warned that a film has a disability theme.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 89% based on reviews from 9 critics. The critical consensus states "Low budget British comedy which is sharply written and nicely acted whilst confounding disability misconceptions and prejudices on the way."[2] On its release The Guardian hailed Special People as "A milestone in mainstream cinema" for its use of disabled cast.[3] The Radio Times called it " A triumph of understated, heartfelt humour" and the Daily Mirror "A little gem".[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Director's anger over comedy film's 'disability' warning". The Independent. 2008-11-16. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  2. ↑ "Special People". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  3. ↑ Barkham, Patrick (2008-11-19). "Ready and able". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  4. ↑ Administrator, mirror (2008-11-20). "Review: Special People". mirror. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
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