Film Review: Murderball

I want you to imagine a physically fit and masculine individual. Now put them into a wheelchair. Now I want you to imagine that you’re holding a ball in your hands, and that fit guy in the wheelchair is rolling at you at tremendous velocity in order to knock the ball out of your hands, even if he has to kill you in the process. Now when you think about that situation, are you thinking to yourself, “Oh poor man, I hope one day he walks again,” or are you thinking “Holy f*%king $h^t!”

The film Murderball follows a group of men on the United States Paralympics quad rugby team. The film explores the stigmatisms of quadriplegics and individuals confined to wheelchairs, along with others that society labels as “disabled.” 

The film’s main message or thesis is to show that individuals in wheelchairs or ones who have some impairment are not weak, struggling or depressed individuals, but are individuals who can be as equally able, capable, or tough (if not tougher) as you or me. Because of this, the film does not follow or adhere to the typical depiction of disabled people, unlike the blog Good Cripple, which describes a disabled person as being a sweet, happy person who can overcome any odds. This film shows gritty, rude, and unapologetic men competing, criticizing, and smashing each other to pieces.

This view of labeling anyone in a wheelchair “disabled” ties right into our classroom discussion about deviant bodies. Those in a wheelchair or those who are paraplegic are considered deviant because they cannot walk; they receive pity and sympathy when they would rather receive equality and understanding.

Some of the points that I found most was based on their overall attitudes (as described above) and on how they rank each other in terms of athleticism or “fitness.” Depending on how much movement they have, as well as other physical ailments determines the points they are worth on the field. This was surprising as it shows us that there is more than one way to label or rank an individuals fitness or “ability.” This is a system that could rate everyone’s ability, and could show that while some people may be able to walk or not appear to have any physical handicaps, they are not as physically capable as those we classify as “handicapped.”

A good topic to research is how infusing athletic programs or training into physical therapy or recovery affects an individuals overall transition, recovery and state of mind. Overall, Murderball is an excellent documentary which shows how individuals, who are confined to a chair, are not confined to a set philosophy or personality. Many can be sweet and have a loving heart, and some can be real sons-of-bitches. In the end you are left questioning the idea of the “master status” and how the surface of an individual is just that, the surface. Underneath ones damaged arms or lifeless legs can burn an animosity for athletic achievement, or simply a desperate need to level another dude.

Murderball.

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