Movies are a source of entertainment for many but they can be inspirational as well. From bringing us true stories from around the world to historic moments that should never be forgotten, storytellers have used this medium to make their audience laugh, cry, and see this beautiful world in a new light. A topic that several directors have portrayed beautifully on the big screen is birth defects. As National Birth Defects Prevention Month has just passed, now is the perfect time to watch some heart-touching yet inspiring movies with your kids celebrating the same.
Wonder (2017) – PG
This film is based on the 2012 novel by R. J. Palacio, which was a New York Times bestseller. Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Mandy Patinkin, and Daveed Diggs star in this movie celebrating birth defects. The story is about a boy named August Pullman. Since he was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, he has facial feature differences, which always makes him feel alienated. However, things change for good when he enters the fifth grade and attends a mainstream elementary school for the first time. This inspiring story is a must-watch with your kids, as it tells a story of resilience and hope, teaching your little ones to never give up.
Midnight Sun (2018) – PG-13
This movie is a romantic tearjerker about 17-year-old Katie Price (played by Bella Thorne) with Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP). It is a life-threatening birth defect that makes her extremely sensitive to sunlight. As a result, she has been sheltered at home since childhood and only goes out at night. However, thanks to her longtime crush Charlie (played by Patrick Schwarzenegger), she gets to live the life of her dreams. Unfortunately, soon after, her condition worsens. Her medical condition keeps getting worse, leaving her with a gut-wrenching dilemma of whether she can ever live a normal life with the love of her life. The film is based on the 2006 Japanese film, “A Song to the Sun”. However, it will be better to watch this movie celebrating birth defects with your teens. It might not be suitable for your tween’s eyes.
Right Footed (2015) – Not Rated
This documentary celebrating birth defects is a must-watch with your kids. The documentary is about Jessica Cox, who was born without arms. Although she always questioned her ability, she eventually managed to overcome many physical and emotional challenges to become fully independent. She not only learned to type with her toes and drive a car with her feet but most importantly, became the superwoman she always dreamt to be by flying an airplane with her feet. The documentary follows her inspiring journey from being a motivational speaker to a mentor, and eventually advocating for people with disability.
Five Feet Apart (2019) – PG-13
Teen Stella Grant loves doing what every 17-year-old loves to do. She is almost always on her laptop and loves to spend most of her time with her friends. However, unlike others, she spends the majority of her time in the hospital with cystic fibrosis (CF). It is a genetic condition that slowly hampers other organs.
In the middle of all her routines, boundaries, and restrictions, she meets Will Newman, a fellow CF patient who has his charms on. Their interactions slowly develop into friendship, which eventually transcends to love. However, the risk of cross-infection forces them to stay apart from each other. Will they follow the rules or neglect everything to be with each other? Watch this movie celebrating birth defects with your kids to find out if they break the rules to get together. Just a heads up, keep a tissue box nearby as these two will surely make you cry.
Other than these movies, you can also watch “More Beautiful for Having Been Broken” (2019), which also celebrates birth defects. These films will make you cry but will also inspire you to accept yourself and strive hard to fulfill your dreams. So, keep your weekend schedule free and watch these inspiring tales with your kiddos, and do let us know their favorite movie character in the comment section below!
