Ben's Animals: A commentary

Moms Julie Chou and Francine Boyer

"Those who love people with disabilities...we need to speak." -Julie Chou

The documentary Ben's Animals was released a week ago, and I've watched it three times. Not because I have met Ben and his mom Julie Chou (spoiler alert: I also was interviewed for their film), but because there are so many layers in Ben's Animals that I take away a different message each time I watch it. Ben's Animals is charming and enchanting. It offers a window into lives like mine that are rarely depicted on screen. Sometimes I feel we live in an underground world. This film makes me feel seen.

Ben's Animals is about Ben Lachapelle's complex and lovely life. This includes living as a creative person, being a talented autistic artist, navigating the adult world, and the impact of the lack of services and funding. The film's grander message is how the world of art is a safe space for many of our loved ones (including my own son Aaron, who is an actor). Ben's Animals is also about caring about animals, community, family and friendships. There is a lot going on, just like in Ben's life, but the story is brilliantly stitched together.

It is an extraordinarily well-crafted film - the cinematography, the music, the direction, the editing - all of it. Kudos to filmmakers Evan Beloff and Noah Leon. Ben's Animals looks gorgeous, and Ben's colourful paintings and sculptures leap off the screen and come to life through animation. Julie's role as Ben's mother is highlighted, as she tells the story of being an ordinary person having to do extraordinary parenting (which is a common description of parenting in the disability world).

"A lot of parents, their biggest prayer is 'let me live one day longer than my child.'" -Francine Boyer

What I took away from my third viewing is that this film is a love letter from Julie to her son. It is said that the most moving stories either surprise or validate you. I felt validated after hearing Julie speak on camera. Julie may be in central Canada and I may be on the west coast. She may have a son with Autism and I may have a son with Down syndrome, but we have much in common. Ben's Animals skillfully weaves our common threads together.

"People with intellectual disabilities need to be protected at all costs." -Julie Chou

And who you think does the protecting? Well, it is families, and the majority of primary caregivers are mothers.

It is powerful to view caregiving represented on the screen. I highly recommend anybody who works with families who have loved ones with intellectual disabilities to watch this film. It is 44 minutes well spent.

I strongly believe if we make the time to understand each other's stories...well, that's where the compassion is born.

Thank you Julie for motivating me to keep sharing my own story as Aaron's mother. Collectively if we touch hearts, we can change minds. xo.

You can watch Ben's Animals on CBC Gem. Search for it under the 'Absolutely Canadian' films.