Out of my mind
is a moving story about a young woman’s struggle to be heard due to people’s frequent rejection of her abilities and intellect. Throughout the film, Melody Brooks proves her incredible, indomitable will despite setbacks and challenges. Furthermore, the film forces us to consider our own prejudices, as it highlights that differences do not equate to a lack of ability, but rather a disconnect in understanding.
Melody was born with cerebral palsy, which affected her mobility and speech abilities. Although Melody’s disability has caused her to be confined to a wheelchair, her mind is brilliant, creative and incredibly resilient, but not everyone realizes this at first glance. When given the opportunity to join a standard sixth grade class for a more advanced education, she takes the opportunity to learn and show others what she can do.
Out of My Mind gives voice to the speechless
Highlighting deficiencies in films can often be a challenge. It is important to show respect and recognize the challenges of individuals living with disabilities, but it is also important to avoid portraying them as helpless victims. The reality is much more subtle and these individuals have struggles, goals, aspirations and talents that set them apart and make them unique, just like everyone else. Yes, your challenges may be more visible, but this can also mean that your strengths are masked by a superficial exterior that doesn’t tell the full story.
The story in Out of my mind is beautifully interwoven with many meaningful moments throughout.
The Disney+ film does a phenomenal job of pulling back the curtain and highlighting the strengths and unique nature of one of these young women, while also recognizing that the truth is not hard to see when an individual is given the opportunity to shine. The film’s star, Phoebe-Rae Taylor, gives an incredible acting performance in her debut role as Melody. Taylor shares some common ground with Melody and her performance is genuinely remarkable. She exemplifies her character’s deep frustration and lack of voice.
To further highlight Melody’s struggles and successes, Jennifer Aniston’s voice was employed to express her inner thoughts. The combination of the physical performance accompanied by the monologue, which provides insight into the character’s state of mind, creates a deeper, holistic exploration of the character and brings this story to life. The result is a clear message about letting go of judgment and recognizing people’s capabilities.
Beautifully constructed narrative that conveys a profound message
The story in Out of my mind is beautifully interwoven with many meaningful moments throughout. In addition to Taylor’s excellent performance, the writing – which adapts Sharon M. Draper’s popular novel of the same name – has elegance in its design. This starts with Melody’s difficulty watching others move in ways she can’t when she’s reduced to a piece of paper with pictures and words on it. Your agony and struggle are deeply felt.
But as the film progresses and Melody continues to find new and innovative ways to express herself and communicate, she finds a new understanding of life, which helps her true personality shine. Ultimately, this makes for a moving and engaging film that constantly defies expectations and forces us to evaluate our own biases. Melody’s struggles are superficial, but the fragility and suffering people perceive are more often a reflection than a true observation. For this reason, Out of my mind It’s an unmissable film.
Out of my mind is now available to stream on Disney+.
- Phoebe-Rae Taylor is spectacular as Melody Brooks.
- The film is a deep and introspective story with an engaging narrative.
- Some story elements felt neglected, with a tense moment being resolved in an instant.