Code of the Freaks debunks well-worn movie tropes while radically reframing the use of disabled characters in film. The film is a fascinating exploration of disability representation in film from 1932 to the present that includes clips of Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Jennifer Garner, and Helen Hunt, along with disabled artists, scholars, and activists who offer a scorching critique of some of Hollywood’s most beloved characters. Documenting the power of film imagery to shape the beliefs and behaviors of the general public toward people with disabilities, the filmmakers dare to imagine a cinematic landscape in which the disabled are portrayed by members of the disabilities community in a more realistic and positive light.   

Official Selection–ReelAbilities National  

Available for viewing November 12-22 in the United States only.

This film is free of charge due to the generous support of our ReelAbilities Film Festival sponsors. 

Watch the trailer: