About this Short Film
Nine-Nine (Jake McCormick, Australia, 2020) is a short film in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. It explores themes connected to chromosomes and Trisomy 9, alongside family life, individuality and the experiences of teenagers with physical, muscular and intellectual disabilities. The film pays attention to non-verbal communication and the ways people express themselves beyond speech. Rather than offering easy answers, Nine-Nine encourages viewers to reflect on ability, care and relationship. It sits squarely within our programme that highlights the talents, achievements and everyday lives of people with disability.
Film Details
Film Transcript
Ben has trisomy, a disability where the ninth chromosome is duplicated, causing a lack of cognitive learning and muscular deficiency. This means he is nonverbal, lacking muscular abilities such as chewing, and has learning difficulties. He used to say "dad" more clearly than he could say "mama". Now he makes more sense of what he can say; sometimes he counts one when you believe in him.
We went into the hospital and they said, you know, he has the disability trisomy. They sort of went through all the problems associated with the disorder, and the main thing would be intellectual disability. He's unable to learn well; he can learn, but these learning abilities aren't like everyone else's. You have to feed him first. We kind of hold the spoon and feed him; sometimes he feeds himself, but he gets very fatigued after just one mouthful. He wants you to do it—he's tired, he's been at school all day. If you can see his hands, he's got a lot of sensory issues, so he always has to hold something. That's why he doesn't want to feed himself—he needs the comfort of holding something. He's here, right, holding his hands.
I don't actually remember too much about when Ben was born, but I remember visiting my mum when he was born. I think it was after school because I remember as soon as we got to my grandmother's place we drove straight to the hospital. I remember seeing Ben, sort of cold. That's pretty much it; I just remember going to my grandmother's.
When I was growing up I was about five and he was three. I noticed that he had things wrong with him—for example, the learning difficulties and muscular deficiencies. By about age three or four he was still in nappies; he still needed to be changed, which I thought was odd but I didn't think too much of it at the time. When my mum and my dad sat down and explained it to me, even at that age I sort of got the idea that he wasn't like other children.
He's always been happy and he's always been a good mate as well as a brother. I find it really hard to see him as the disability and more as a friend. When I was told that he had the disability, it didn't have any effect on me. I just sort of said, "Okay," and we went on with daily life.
Filmmaker
Jake McCormick is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Jake McCormick.
Excellent job Jake .
Great documentary amazing family and wonderful support for Ben loved the brotherly bond it is very touching.
Great story. Told in a very real way. Love the bit at the end post credits
Hi Jake I just finished watching your film. What a wonderful documentary and a powerful information you have presented . Congratulations As Ben's teacher it's lovely to see the interactions between the two brothers. Good luck and best wishes.
This is a lovely heartfelt entertaining and informative video essay about Ben who has a disability.Great scenes of the family with Jake his brother Ben and his parents caring for Ben which presents a very natural playful and loving environment.Production values are also high including the visual presentation as well as carefully chosen but unobtrusive music with Jake's natural relaxed and thoughtful voiceover perfectly complementing these elements.Also I was employed as a Disability Support Worker for several years so this particular story had an added appeal for me.In addition the topic of disability and caring for people with disabilities is now even more relevant and important than ever particularly given the current COVID world we are living in.Therefore I thoroughly recommend everyone to watch this informative heartfelt and beautifully produced video essay from Jake McCormick.Peter Wilshire.
Great stuff Very proud.
How exciting Ben you did a fantastic job well done Jake
Well done Jake. Great effort