Christmas Ever After: A step in the right direction for Disability Representation in the Film Industry

Image source: Ali Stroker's Instagram (@alistroker)

As Christmas is right around the corner I, like many people, have been getting festive by watching all the classic films like Love Actually, The Holiday and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (or simply The Grinch). But last week I discovered what I believe to be a hidden gem, and as soon as I finished watching it, I knew I needed to write about it. The film is called Christmas Ever After and was filmed across 15 days during the pandemic (I know I can't believe it either!)

The film follows Izzi Simmons (Ali Stroker) an author who spends her Christmas at her favourite ski lodge searching for inspiration to finish her new book. Upon her arrival she is surprised to find that the lodge has a new owner, Mat (Daniel di Tomasso). 

For those of you who are intrigued and want to watch it, you can find it on Channel 5 in the UK and Lifetime in the US.

So why is this film so important? Well for me the film stands out for 3 reasons:

1. Izzie Simmons has a disability, but it is NOT a plot point 

That's right, this film has everything you could possibly want in a Christmas film - snow, a cosy small town, carol singing, gingerbread baking and light switch on montages and romance.  The only difference is that the protagonist is a disabled woman. Now I know there are plenty of films about disabled people like Me Before You (2016) and The Fundamentals of Caring (2016) but unlike those films, the fact that Izzie uses a wheelchair is not the focus. It just is. As a wheelchair user myself, it felt so refreshing to watch a film featuring a disabled character that at no point became 'Inspiration Porn'. In case any of you are unaware, inspiration porn is when disabled people are viewed as an inspiration just for having a disability.

This is the first film I've ever seen with a realistic portrayal of day-to-day life with a physical disability that illustrates how independent people can be. Izzi lives alone in an apartment in New York, she drives a car adapted with hand controls and she is a successful author. 

Historically, films have tended to focus on the extremes of physical disability - mild (can walk but with a limp) or severe (such as paralysis). While people with these conditions do exist, there are many others (myself included) who can't walk but are still very independent - just like Izzi. Therefore, I believe this film is important because it shows that physical disability, like all disabilities is a spectrum and that there is not always a correlation between physical ability and mental ability - you can be a wheelchair user and have a job/go to university etc as is true for so many people.

2. The love interest is able-bodied

Yep, another reason that makes this film so refreshing is that Matt is able-bodied. This is important especially to me because it helps to lessen the stigma surrounding dating as a disabled person, particularly 'Inter-able' relationships. An inter-able relationship refers to a relationship between a disabled person and an able-bodied person. 

Unfortunately, from personal experience I have learned that society believes that disabled people should only be with other disabled people or that being disabled means you are not worthy of being in a relationship with an able-bodied person. In the past I've had people make all kinds of comments but the most common tends to be "I'd date you if you weren't in a wheelchair". However, this view is thankfully not held by everyone and there are many people in inter-able relationships who are very happy. 

One of the biggest stereotypes of inter-able relationships is that the able-bodied partner is a 'saint'. This is because people assume that to be in an inter-able relationship the able-bodied partner has had to sacrifice everything and that being with a disabled person is so high maintenance. Again, this is simply not true. In my opinion, being in a relationship with a disabled person doesn't need to cause a commotion because it is normal and happens every day, which is exactly what this film does - normalises inter-able relationships.

The film is laced with things that show how Izzi's disability has no effect on her and Matt's relationship but there were two specific moments that made me overly emotional with happiness. The first was when Izzi gave Matt bowling tips as it shows that disabled people are not always the ones who need a helping hand and the second was when the two of them were out on a walk and they held hands (it's the small things). Ultimately, by portraying this on screen, it will hopefully encourage people to accept that having a disability means that you are in no way less worthy of love.

3. Izzie is played by a disabled actress

Finally, what makes this film so incredibly important is that an actress is disabled herself. Ali Stroker is the first disable actress to win a Tony award, which she won for her performance in Oklahoma! She is also the first disabled actress I have seen to have the starring role in a film. This is a momentous achievement because it provides evidence that the film industry is finally beginning to recognise that having a disability does not mean people don't have talent which allows disabled actors and actresses the opportunity to play the roles created for them.

Although, that's not to say the film and television industry hasn't improved until now. Over the last few years, the number of disabled actors in roles has increased. Most recently season 2 of Netflix's Sex Education features Isaac (George Robinson) a wheelchair user who lives on the same caravan site as Maeve. Before that, on Breaking Bad (2008-13) Walter White Jr son of Walter White has Cerebral Palsy and he is played by RJ Mitte who also has the condition. 

Finally, I hope the film industry continues to improve and takes note of the work the television industry is doing to bring realistic representations of disability to life on our screens. While simultaneously promoting awareness and need for disabled actors and actresses within the industry.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Until next time,

Dan