'Ableism' criticised, boycott not supported

Disabled  man Tom McAlpine, of Dunedin, wants people to watch a controversial British film but...
Disabled man Tom McAlpine, of Dunedin, wants people to watch a controversial British film but think about the points it is missing. Photo by Christine O'Connor.
A disabled Dunedin man wants people to see a controversial film rather than boycott it as long as they talk sensibly about euthanasia and sex after the credits have rolled.

The novel Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes, has been adapted for film and is in cinemas now.

On its release, disability advocates in Wellington urged people to boycott the film because of its depiction of someone who was paralysed.

Dunedin student Tom McAlpine (27), who has cerebral palsy, said he felt "angry'' after watching the film at Reading Cinemas in the Octagon.

A lead character in the film, Will Traynor, a wealthy young man is paralysed in a motorcycle accident.

After a failed suicide attempt, Traynor wants to end his life through a Swiss-based assisted suicide organisation.

His mother promises to honour her son's wish if he agrees to live six months, hoping he will find life is worth living.

Although he and his carer fall in love, he cannot bear to live in a wheelchair and kills himself.

Mr McAlpine (27), a former Voluntary Euthanasia Society of New Zealand secretary, said he wanted the film to explore the complementary and alternative therapies available to Traynor.

"This film gets people to think but not of alternatives to [improve] quality of life for Will Traynor.''

Mr McAlpine said the movie was full of "ableism'' - the discrimination against individuals with physical disabilities or deformities.

"It seems to be suggesting you can't have a sex life as a disabled person ... is it saying disabled people aren't good lovers?''

Traynor could kiss and cuddle so a sex life was possible, with creativity.

CCS Disability Action national policy co-ordinator Sam Murray, of Dunedin, said people often thought disabled people were not capable of having a sex life "and they definitely can - you just have to think outside the box''.

CCS Disability Action had no stance on euthanasia.

Responding to criticism from disability activists, film director Thea Sharrock told

The Guardian people were misunderstanding the film's message.

"It's a fictional story about how important the right to choose is. The message of the film is to live boldly, push yourself, don't settle,'' she said.

shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz

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