Read, Watch, Critique: "I am Sam"

Film: "I am Sam"

Director: Jessie Nelson

Date of Release: 2001

Portrayal of an Intellectual Disability

Portrayal of Sam

Intellectual disabilities cover a variety of physical, intellectual, academic and behavioural characteristic ·       Measured by a scale with mildly disabled at one end (capable of basic academic skills-general achievement grade 2-5) and profoundly retarded on the other end (with intensive training may learn basic self help and communication skills).  ·       More than 75% of those identified are in the mild range. ·        Difficulty with learning and memory skills, especially short-term memory. ·       Difficulty with interpersonal relationships, social concepts, emotional instability and communication. ·       Those with intellectual disabilities show a high rate of behaviour disorders, which include, aggression, self-stimulating behaviour (repetitive movements such as rocking) and self-injurious behaviour. However taking adaptive behaviour into account, many individuals who score poorly on an IQ test can actually live and learn quite well in a variety of environments.

·       Sam was born with an intellectual disability. He has a mild to moderate intellectual disability ·       He grew up in an institution. His mother died when he was young. ·       Sam is at a developmental stage of a 7 year old. ·       He is at a preschool reading level ·       Sam is capable of basic communication. ·       Sam is empathetic and compassionate. ·       Sam is able to keep a job. He worked at Starbucks and Pizza Hut. ·       He is very good with his hands (origami). ·       Sam has poor short-term memory but good long-term memory. Sam cannot remember court dates, but remembers Lucy’s mother. ·       Sam is able to learn basic self -help skill. ·       Sam is able to live and function independently in his own apartment. ·       Sam maintains a social circle with his friends who also have different types of exceptionalities and his lawyer. ·       Sam exhibits self-stimulating behaviour (rocking). ·       Sam shows signs of O.C.D. He repeatedly organizes inanimate objects. For example: at Starbucks he organizes all the sugar packets. ·       Sam is unable to control his emotions in certain situations. For Example: Lucy wanted to try out a burger place instead of Ihop. Sam tried to order pancakes like he would at Ihop and could not. He got frustrated and threw a tantrum.

The portrayal of Sam, a single father with an intellectual disability, in the movie “I am Sam” sheds light on to the life of an individual living with a mild intellectual disability. Sam has a hard time controlling his emotions and behaviours in certain situations. This is a common trait in an individual with an intellectual disability. Sam’s cognitive ability is that typical of a seven year old. Sam becomes very frustrated when he encounters new and unfamiliar situations or changes to his routine. Sam was portrayed as very charming, compassionate and polite. He had an ability to maintain a social circle. This is not an interpersonal trait common in individuals with an intellectual disability. Sam has an incredible ability to sculpt paper (origami), which is a personal trait. “I am Sam” is a very emotionally charged movie with a heartwarming message of a fathers love conquering all, despite the many challenges he had to face. “I am Sam”, for the most part, portrays an individual with a mild intellectual disability accurately. We would recommend watching "I am Sam" because it shows an understanding of the challenges an individual with an intellectual disability faces on a daily basis. It builds an understanding towards this disorder, which in turn promotes empathy and tolerance towards someone with an intellectual disability. 

By: Dawn and Angela