My friend Imbert recently emailed me, and enthusiastically recommended "Emmanuel�s Gift," calling it "an inspirational documentary film." It�s about a disabled young man from Ghana who rode his bike across his country in order to change perceptions about disabilities.

My friend and associate Imbert is inspirational himself. He co-founded Clear Path International, an organization that provides assistance to victims of unexploded ordnance � or uxo � in Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Thai-Burma border. He knows first hand how people with disabilities in developing countries suffer because of the stigma, lack of access, and inability to make a living. And I have had the fortune of volunteering as an Advisor to Clear Path for the last several years.

As in other developing countries, Ghana is not a good place to have a disability. Parents either poison their disabled children, or leave them to die in the forest. It�s called "seeing off." Or, at best, the disabled are expected to be beggars for their whole lives. A disability is not viewed as an accident, but as a punishment from a deity, and a curse. In Ghana 10% of the population � or 2 million people - are disabled. When Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah was born with one twisted deformed leg, his father abandoned the family because of it. His mother mourned her first son�s disability and tried to find a cure. When she learned there wasn�t one, she championed her son�s cause until she died an early death.

The moment "Emmanuel�s Gift" opened, I was drawn in by Emmanuel�s beautiful open face and palpable charisma, and wanted to know more about him. He seems � like the narrator, Oprah � to be a born inspirational leader who refuses to believe the limitations that society set for him. He has his own vision of the world, and is a study in tenacity.

As the only disabled child who dared to attend school, Emmanuel was teased and rejected by classmates. He was such a clever boy, he figured out a way to become a part of the group by earning enough money to buy a coveted soccer ball. He let the other boys play with his soccer ball as long as they let him play soccer with them.

Twin sister producer/directors Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern found a singular young man in Emmanuel, and followed his story over some years. With lush photography that captures the lively hues of life in Ghana, this story covers a lot of ground. At times I didn�t want to listen to any narration or Western interviews, I just wanted to hear Emmanuel�s spare and pithy pearls. But, the only way to get this whole story in was to use the expository methods of narration and interviews. I won�t give it away, but can say that Emmanuel�s story is not only for the underdog. It can change us all.

I believe we are hardwired to love stories of triumph and glory. Emmanuel�s is a genuine one; he uses his self-claimed power to empower others. I plan to take "Emmanuel�s Gift" DVD�s to Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Thai-Burma border in a few months to show to our uxo victims who have lost limbs. Emmanuel exudes a true affirming message, and can add me as one of his admirers who will spread the word.

For Movie Magazine, this is Joan Widdifield.
Air date: 7/05/06
j.widdifield@gmail.com

© 2006 - Joan K. Widdifield, Psy.D - Air Date: 7/05/06