I watched a movie last night that I thought would be a good one to review for the Amputee News blog. The movie is "What's bugging Seth?” (You can order it online from www.whatsbuggingseth.com), it's a story about Seth, a deaf man who is determined to start up a bug extermination business in Monterey, California.

In the movie he's up against an established business, his determination to go it alone, and some personal issues. One of these personal issues revolves around Nora, the girl he pined for in high school and Alma, a local girl, who in the movie, was born without legs below the knee.

I could give a review of the whole movie, there is plenty there to work with, but I’m going to focus this review on Alma, played by Amy Purdy, and the issues she raises as an amputee in the movie.

I’m going to give away some of the plot doing this, but the movie has been out since 2005, and I’m not revealing anything like who Luke Skywalker’s father is, (father and son amputees).

When we first meet Alma we aren’t shown or told she’s an amputee, she’s a local girl who knows Seth and they have a drink together at the local bar. She is clearly attracted to Seth, but in a way that seems a little uncomfortable and perhaps even a little desperate. During their drink Seth happens to look down and sees that she’s wearing a prosthetic leg, (straight pylon, no cosmetic covering). Alma is clearly uncomfortable at this unplanned revelation of hers and leaves the bar. Seth follows and consequently asks her out.

This episode hits an issue that for many amputees has become less and less of an issue, as many amputees don’t bother with cosmetic coverings. I call it the Bauhaus school of prosthetic limbs, if it’s an artificial limb, let it look like one. Alma’s character has been an amputee since birth, yet for some reason she has not quite come to terms with her prosthetic legs. I was confused about this as I watched the movie, but realized later what was going on.

Out on a date, Alma and Seth are talking about their respective disabilities when Alma mentions how people tell her she has no legs, to which she replies, “Oh, thanks for telling me that.” The reaction of other people has become internalized and part of Alma’s self perception, her disability has become to a great extent her self image. She even carries with her a photo torn from a catalog of the cosmetically attractive legs she plans to get. For her, that’s what she desperately wants to look like.

The date ends with Alma and Seth going to bed, and in a scene that was poignant and funny, I realized how very different being a male amputee is from a female amputee when faced with that first time being naked with a lover. (Pause while the men nod and women roll their eyes.) For a man, that moment is 1% concern over body image and 99%, well… you know. For women, well, watching Alma it’s clear the ratio is reversed.

Later in the movie Alma gets her cosmetic legs, painted toe nails and all. They are really nice legs and her character is clearly excited about surprising Seth with them. I think every amputee is excited to show of their new legs, cosmetic or otherwise. It’s better than getting a new car, and as expensive.

Near the end of the movie we finally see Alma’s motivations regarding her eagerness to jump into a relationship. Though some amputees watching the movie may have suspected them earlier. Seth was a ‘safe’ guy to go out with, he’s deaf, different, and an outsider as Alma sees herself to be. It’s as if she had decided that going out with a disabled guy would be better than a ‘normal’ guy. A disabled guy would have insight and understanding that other guys wouldn’t.

Towards the end of the movie, as she tells Seth all this, it’s too late, she’s realized that being disabled doesn’t make you a better person. All the dumb assumptions, emotional inabilities and pig headedness that are found in ‘normal’ people exist in those of us outside that category. In this regard, a disabled person is the same as a normal person.

Although I’ve focused on just Alma and her story line, the theme of disabled equaling normal in the realm of human interactions is found in the whole movie and finds voice in the character of Seth with much more force. It’s a theme that amputees, the deaf and ‘normal’ folks can hear.

I’m recommending this movie to amputees, and their non-amputee friends and family. And if you want more information on Amy Purdy visit, www.adaptiveactionsports.com.