BY Mareez Hany Mounir

Throughout the past decade (2010 – 2019), a high level of awareness regarding both mental and physical disabilities have come into the light. Disabilities have always been a sensitive topic for discussion. Its sensitivity is derived from people’s limited education and the fear of facing such cases. What change has occurred, leading this topic to be widely mentioned and even discussed to the public? It is clearly notable that Egyptian Cinema has a high influence on its audience, helping them in taking better decisions. Recently, cinema has been portraying such cases with disabilities. With its mention to these cases, does the cinema enhance in diagnosing the audience?

Sorry for Disturbance

Movie 2008 Directed by: Khaled Marei

Following by his father’s death, Hassan, played by Ahmed Helmy, suffered from schizophrenia. It started by seeing and connecting with his dead father, portrayed by Mahmoud Hemeida, and building a relationship with Farida, presented by Menna Shalaby, who both did not exist in Hassan’s present.

People were not only astonished of the great portrayal of a schizophrenic person, but also, they were satisfied of viewing the needed medical and emotional care this person deserves for treatment.

 Khali Balak Men Zizi

Drama 2021 Directed by: Karim El Shennawy

While interviewing with Sarah Hanna, a biotechnologist and an experienced viewer of films portraying disabilities, she stated her review regarding the help this series offered in discussing what ADHD means and its symptoms and, more importantly, how it differs from different ages. She also mentioned how it helped parents to take a closer look at their children’s behavior and the reason behind it; however, she stated that many people have been self-diagnosing themselves with ADHD as if it is a stereotype.

Divorced for her abnormal actions and problems she caused, Zeinab (Zizi), played by Amina Khalil, knew the reason behind all of her questionable behavior after taking her therapy sessions for her divorce case. The knowledge of her being diagnosed with ADHD (adhesive-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) resulted in building a project for ADHD kids to help them in managing their lives in terms of academic education and growing relationships.

Hala Khasa

Drama 2024 Directed by: Abdel Aziz El Naggar

Achieving his dream of being a famous lawyer, Nadim, played by Taha Desouky, struggled in his childhood because of autism. With the help and courage of his boss Amany El Naggar, portrayed by Ghada Adel, he was companied and supported to achieve his goal. Although his colleagues bullied him for having different brain function, they were amazed by his special abilities and his ways in solving the cases.

The series gave the audience a new side of people who have exceptional abilities as Nadim. It also highlighted how they can achieve their dreams, although they will overcome some challenges. The most important is to find this person as Gameel, Nadim’s best friend and guardian, who believes in the gifted abilities and help any person to use them in the right place with the right people.

Mikano

Movie 2009 Directed by: Mahmoud Kamel

A successful and extraordinary engineer suffering from memory loss resulted from brain tumor, Khaled, played by Taim Hassan, chose to live of his life hiding behind the shadows and highly relied on his brother, portrayed by Khaled El Sawi. However, meeting Amina turned Khaled’s life into another level.

The movie not only stated the memory loss as it is, but also the life of the person suffering from. For example, the sticky notes filling every part in the room, the pictures all over the house, and sitting home alone most of the time were small glimpses of this person’s life. It also mentioned how the family suffers. The family may give up for the person’s sake. The movie covered the most of these angles, whether the disadvantages or advantages.

 Other movies and TV dramas have discussed mental and physical disabilities. Their mention was not only about it as a sickness, but also its way of living and dealing with it, in addition to its pros and cons.