Secret Diary of a Call Girl - Representation of Disability

Secret Diary of a Call Girl - Representation of Disability

The majority of the people in the world take disability as a serious issue. In the clip, the disabled boy is shown as weak and pitiable as he is unable to complete many simple tasks by himself, such as climbing up stairs, drinking and taking off his clothes.

In the first scene the women opens the door to her flat and the camera lowers its lens to look at the boy in the wheelchair. This gives the impression that people look down at people with disabilities and they are weaker than everyone else. As the boy enters the flat the audience can see the deep red walls which could signify love and kindness of the women. In many of the angles in this scene the dad is stood behind the boy in the wheelchair, however you cannot see the boy because the camera is too high, this represents that disabled people are often overlooked by society.

Later in the clip the boy is shown helpless as his dad has to help him get onto the bed, obviously this shows his helplessness, it also is a suggestion that the rest of people with disabilities are the same. The girl shows concern for the boy and doesn’t lock the door as she is worried the boy will be scared, this also shows a suggestion that disabled people are weak and incapable of looking after themselves.

The boy is positioned on a bed covered in multiple cushions and thick duvets, this signifies the protection that society thinks disabled people need, when it isn’t always necessary. When the boy is handed a glass of champagne he is unable to hold it and appears to be not experienced with alcohol, this may represent that disabled people don’t socialise and go out drinking as much as any other person would.