About this Short Film
Sandy's Story (Sally Newman, Australia, 2021) is a short film presented in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. The work explores themes of achievement, art, disease and physical disability from an adult, individual perspective and references wheelchair use. Newman offers a careful, human portrait that invites audiences to consider creativity, adaptation and personal accomplishment. The film does not hand out easy answers, instead leaving space for reflection and conversation. As part of our programme, Sandy's Story sits alongside other films that celebrate the abilities, experiences and achievements of people with disability and contributes a thoughtful, artful voice to the festival.
Film Details
Film Transcript
When I was 23 I fell down some steps and started off an arthritic disease in my back that's progressed through my body. It was so hard trying to frame everything.
How does it feel coming into a space and seeing your first ever exhibition up on display in a public gallery?
Absolutely amazing. Very amazing. No limitations.
What does that mean to you?
That it doesn't matter what you face in life. You can always achieve things. Fight for everything — not fight as in our view but use your body and fight to get the most out of everything. I love that. Push everything aside. This is my exhibition. Please come in and enjoy.
And all of those kids who used to pick at me at school — dancing, the singing, the poems, and everyone laughing and having a good time and seeing them enjoy the art — that was great.
This is from Tempo and Simon. Congratulations on your exhibition collaboration. We love you and are so proud of you.
This is the pulling down. This is getting them all back home again.
What's your next step? What do you want to do next?
Open my business. It's going to be the art and the art made into place mats and coasters and stuff like that. Not just stress. Whatever will happen, will happen. But I bet you still just — again next time, probably, but not so much next time. I've done it now. I'm a seasoned professional.
Filmmaker
Sally Newman is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Sally Newman.
Sally what a wonderful job you did. You and Dianna are wonderful ladies all of the work you did. The film is great and hope one day you have reward for all the caring charity and love that you show to every one you meet or work with although the smiles and joy you bring would be more than enough reward in your eyes I think. You are a wonderful person wish there were more like you in the world..
What an amazing film . You are so talented.