Poland - Like A Butterfly
This is the story of twenty-three year old Przemek. Born unable to move or speak, he has been stuck in a wheelchair all his life, and thought by doctors to be mentally impaired until he managed to learn BLISS. Combining the use of signs with signals such as batting the eyelids or tapping his foot, he has finally found a way to express himself. This documentary reveals his poignant struggle to make himself heard. Now an award-winning poet, he recounts his feelings of entrapment and frustration at not being able to communicate with others. He also recalls his traumatic experience being moved to a nursery home as his mother could no longer take care of him. 'Disability is less of a tragedy than not being understood', he tells us. Thanks to BLISS, his craving for love and affection has found a voice.
Key shots:
00:39 - Przemek in his wheelchair
01:17 - extreme close up of his eyes
02:00 - signing a contract with his thumb
03:52 - Przemek watches children jumping into the water
05:50 - taking the scouts' oath by tapping with his foo
09:53 - close ups of disabled children
11:32 - close up of Przemek's face, his front teeth are missing
13:54 - Przemek's 'walk':wriggling on the floor, he covers 6 feet in 10 minutes
15:57 - nurse teaching him the BLISS language
18:41 - symbols used in BLISS
25:47 - in the park, Przemek exchanges looks with a baby in a pushchair
MG Productions
FULL SYNOPSIS
01:17 - extreme close up of his eyes
02:00 - signing a contract with his thumb
03:52 - Przemek watches children jumping into the water
05:50 - taking the scouts' oath by tapping with his foo
09:53 - close ups of disabled children
11:32 - close up of Przemek's face, his front teeth are missing
13:54 - Przemek's 'walk':wriggling on the floor, he covers 6 feet in 10 minutes
15:57 - nurse teaching him the BLISS language
18:41 - symbols used in BLISS
25:47 - in the park, Przemek exchanges looks with a baby in a pushchair
MG Productions