STEREOTYPES ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
FILM: QUASI AMICI
Following a very serious paragliding accident, Philippe, a rich aristocrat, hires Driss, a young man
from the suburbs who has just come out of prison, as a domestic help. Initially, Driss doesn't seem
to want to make any effort to learn the tasks he has to perform, and apparently his experience
seems to have to end quickly. But soon the two begin to establish a beautiful relationship: Driss
approaches Philippe without preconceptions unlike all the others, making him forget about his
physical problem. The two spend so much time together that they have a beautiful relationship.
Philippe has an epistolary relationship with Éléonore to which he never wanted to show himself
fearing that his physical state could scare her and drive her away, but Driss urges him not to be
afraid and to have self-esteem. Philippe, on the other hand, teaches Driss to appreciate classical
music and pushes him to discover his artistic vein in the field of abstract painting. They are so
almost friends.
In conclusion, the film has become a reference point on disability, because it distances us from
pity and drama and leads us to adopt a more natural, less tragic and more positive vision. So we
can see that the frequent stereotypes of disability are eliminated in this film.
GUADAGNO ROSSELLA
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