By Abby Cooper, Flawless Foundation Intern
As Bullying Prevention Month comes to an end, I feel inspired to share with you my thoughts on The Peanut Butter Falcon, a film that powerfully represents the lives of people who are differently abled. I am reflecting on this movie during this important awareness month, in particular, because people with disabilities—and any sort of differences, really—are so often the objects of misunderstanding in our society. Representation in the media is vital to reinforcing the idea of full inclusion for everyone, no matter their differences, and The Peanut Butter Falcon achieves just that.
The movie is the story of Zak. An aspiring professional wrestler, Zak decides to set off on a journey to meet his wrestling hero and attend wrestling school. Along the way, he meets Tyler, a fisherman running from trouble with the law. The unlikely pair grows together over the course of the film, learning their own strengths along the way—especially Zak, as Tyler is the first to ever believe in him. Zak has been living in a nursing home, because he has Down syndrome.
This situation may seem far-fetched, but for too many individuals face the same dilemma as Zak. Many people with disabilities require daily care and assistance, but Zak is without a family, meaning the state can place him in a facility. Legislation like the Disability Integration Act requires private health insurance to cover certain necessary forms of care for those with disabilities, but for people like Zak, who don’t have private insurance, there are very few options for long-term care. With the help of Tyler and other friends, Zak is able to carve out a future for himself.
The film explores important issues facing people with disabilities, but it is not a “disability film”—it is a film about a character with a particular reality, who also happens to be differently abled. Aspects of ableism are also discussed in the film, such as the use of derogatory terms, to give the viewer a sense of the daily prejudices that people like Zak are up against. The Peanut Butter Falcon also addresses other important issues, such as derogatory verbal abuse, and the importance of fostering independence in people with developmental disabilities, rather than assigning them overbearing caregivers.
Research shows us that bullying prevention really only works by trying to understand people who have “bullying” behaviors, while also challenging the underlying perspectives that inform their actions. The media is a great tool for immersing people in the lives of others, allowing them to experience unfamiliar realities. Movies help create a type of embodied empathy that cannot be easily taught. As October comes to a close, and with bullying prevention always on our minds, I really encourage you to see this movie. I know it will give you a lot to think about.
