Representation of Disability - Diary of a Call Girl

Disability - Secret Diary of a Call Girl

This clip from the Secret diary of a call girl contains the representation of multiple stereotypes about disability and of those who have to live with a disability. 

The clip begins with a long shot that shows a women (Billie Piper) from behind. As she opens the front door of her apartment, we see a large man standing behind a younger man who is sat in a wheel chair. This single shot of all three characters shows us modern days society's view upon different types of people. The abled body man is seen as the taller than the girl and towering owner the disabled boy, this represents his power and how he is seen as more important than both the woman and the disabled character. Along side the man, the woman is also seen as higher than the disabled boy. This again shows how the disability makes the boy less powerful and less 'important' compared to the other two characters.
A cut is then used to show the face of the woman who, whilst  smiling, is looking down at the boy. This may again link to the idea that disabled people have less power in todays society and have to be looked down upon by those who possess more power. 

As the clip continues, the boy and his father (As we find out later on in the clip) make their way into the girls apartment. As the moves in, his father follows him very closely behind following him in the same path. This represents the stereotypes that create a fragile and powerless image of disabled people and that they need constantly caring for. Once the pair have stopped moving, the camera cuts to a close up shot of the disabled boy. In this shot, we see hime glance up to the women. This again represents the idea of disabled people being the lowest in society and they look up to the rest of society.

The three characters are then stood in the woman's living room. The boy then asks his father to retrieve an envelop from his bag. This represents the idea that disabled people require the psychical assistance from though who are psychically more able. It also reinforces the idea that disabled people are unable to complete easy tasks such as this one. Once the father has handed the woman the envelop, an over the shoulder shot is used and we see the woman who tells the two to 'Makes themselves at home'. After saying this she  quickly departs for the time being. In her absence, the boy's father wanders around the woman's apartment. His short self led guide of the room is then interrupted by his son who is positioned in front of a few steps yet due to his condition, he is unable to monuver up them. This situation is a clear representation of the idea that people with disabilities are unable to complete simple tasks such as getting up steps. The following event also plays upon the stereotype that disabled people require the help of others without disabilities. The boy simply says 'Dad' and his father knows he requires some psychical assistance. He is given this assistance by his father lifting him out of his wheelchair, carrying him up the steps and placing him on the girls bed. Blake's father places him down gently to ensure that he is not harmed and is further comforted by adjusting his leg positioning and fluffing pillows for him. This again refers to Paul Hunt representation of disability as the disabled character in this clip is viewed as pitiable because he is needing attention more often to do things in life in which the audience and the characters feel sympathy for the disabled character due to the numbers of inabilities that he now has compared to an able bodied person. The father does exactly what his son asks such as when he asks to untie his dungarees so that they do not look like they are wearing the same t-shirt in order to try and raise the popularity of the character. 

As Blake's father leaves the apartment, the female character firmly shuts the door and attempts to lock it. This can suggest that she may be taking advantage of the disabled character by preventing the possibility of the male’s father returning. However it is not until the female character looks at Blake for her to realise that he may need attention from his father, so she unlocks the door and approaches the disabled character. Blake's concerning emotions on his face displayed when she locks the door suggests that he feels nervous/vulnerable knowing that his dad would no longer be able to enter the apartments. She approaches the Blake whilst rubbing her hands together which suggests that she is preparing for either an intimate moment or she is uncomfortable being around a disabled character in this sort of situation. After the female character’s speech about the ‘nice’ relationship between Blake and his father, he appears to be very uncomfortable around her as his facial expression appears blank and occasionally looks in a different direction to the female character. When asked for whether he wants a drink, there is no vocal response from the character but a head nodding gesture which furthermore supports the discomfort of the character the sexual situation that he is not used to being in. When the female character approaches the male character with the drink, she pauses as if she doesn’t understand what to do. In response, she acts like a mother figure by assisting the male character with drinking as he may have a difficulty doing so as well as watching over him to prevent anything from happening to him that may affect him.

The following scene follows with a close up of the father entering his vehicle and then a long shot of the building of which his son and the female character are inside. Diegetic sound in this scene includes music played on the vehicle radio which is classical to ensure that the character is calm and is not worried about his son. This allows the character to pass the time by thinking that his son is not harmed. Eventually, the radio is turned off and the character plays with functions of the vehicle further prevent the character from worrying and also to pass the time. However, the pace in which the functions emphasise that the father is concerned about his son. This is supported by the father character occasionally looking at the building to express his concern. Jump cuts are used throughout this scene to emphasise the anxiety of the character. 

The last scene of this specific clip opens with the female character touching Blake and a close up as well as a panning shot is used to capture this. The closed eyes and facial expressions of the disabled character whilst the female character touching him expresses the uncomfortable position that he is in. This may be due to the idea that he is not used to intimate moments such as this. A mid shot is included to show the female character’s realism of the discomfort of Blake. He then says ‘I’m not used to being touched’. This diegetic sound enforces the stereotype that disabled people are subject to less sexual moments such as these. This again is related to Paul Hunt’s representation of disability because disabled people are viewed as 'non-sexual'. Regardless of this, the female character maintains here composure by continuing to smile at him. The female character asks to take off Blake’s shirt, this then allows the him to experience more sexual intimacy than he is used to. The female character assists with helping Blake take of his shirt which again plays upon the stereotype that disabled people require the help go more abled people. This acts casts the women as a motherly figure. The soundtrack does not emphasise sexual intimacy but calm and caring moving. As she assists with lying the male character back down on the bed once again, she is positioned on top of him in a sexual position. This may show that she is taking advantage of him or allowing him to experience sexual intimacy. The clip concludes with this scene.