The Engagement

By Edward Jacobi

"If I had met her on the street, I think I would have avoided her, in my mind at least."

These are the words of director Gilles Blais as he introduces us to one of the members of "Pourquoi pas nous?" Her name is Gisele, and at the age of 37, she has become the newest member of the "Pourquoi pas nous?" (Why Not Us?) troupe of actors. This unique and diversified ensemble consists of seven actors with intellectual disabilities who display an insatiable passion for theatre.

Gisele is described as a loveable, enthusiastic individual who lives with her parents and works in a sheltered workshop. She seems to regard the world with childlike wonderment and her ageless smile serves as a reminder of innocence lost. Gisele’s disability was the result of improper administration of medication during her mother’s pregnancy.

Other members of the troupe include Anne-Marie, aged 34. Anne-Marie has never lived with her parents. She is employed at a day care centre where she is part of the kitchen staff. When the work day is a little slow, Anne-Marie can be found in the nursery, fulfilling her heart’s desire. What Anne-Marie wants most in the world is to have children. She has Down’s syndrome.

Andre, a 46-year-old man who was born with a mild intellectual disability, is employed as a file clerk in the medical records department of a local Montreal hospital. Andre and Anne-Marie are the only couple in the troupe. As such, a considerable portion of the film revolves around their complex relationship.

Serge, an engaging, congenial, gentle man, works in a garage where he is treated with equality and respect. At the age of 34 he lives independently within a supervised environment.

The remaining members of the troupe, Bobby, Colette and Lisette, are featured more prominently in the film’s original French version, produced by Colette Blanchard.

Produced for the National Film Board of Canada, "The Engagement" chronicles the journey of these seven actors as their theatre group is selected to represent Quebec at the fifth European Festival for Mentally Disabled Artists in France. This film also tells the tale of a couple and their relationship. It is a voyage of discovery as seven individuals learn about themselves and their place in society.

"The Engagement" examines many controversial but relevant themes that have a direct impact on the quality of life for many of today’s adults with intellectual disabilities. One such theme is the rights of people with intellectual disabilities within the context of the control exercised by authority figures (family members, healthcare workers). The scene in which Andre and Anne-Marie are interviewed, near the end of the film, provides an excellent illustration of this. The topic of discussion is the couple’s getting married. According to Andre, his mother is bitterly opposed to the idea, stating that it may be beyond Anne-Marie’s ability to comprehend the trials and tribulations of marriage. Andre’s father seems to feel that his involvement in his son’s affairs is unwarranted.

This scene also forces the examination of two secondary themes. Firstly, at what point, if at all, should a second party place restrictions on the inalienable rights of someone with an intellectual disability? Secondly and perhaps more importantly, what about matters relating to the sexuality of those with intellectual disabilities – e.g. dating, marriage and sterilization?

"The Engagement" manages, subtly but poignantly, to address the issue of prejudice. Director Gilles Blais comments on how condescending attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities can be copied by them and directed against each other. This is demonstrated when Andre and Philippe (an actor from France with a disability) have dinner in the French village of Lezay, where a fellow troupe of actors is based. Andre assumes an attitude of superiority and conducts himself in a very condescending fashion when interacting with his French counterpart. When asked about his behaviour, Andre quips, "I was only behaving the way an adult should behave. The way they always have done."

Serge allows us to see how far we have progressed in the area of integration. He is a symbol, representing the potential growth and independence to be gained from deinstitutionalization. Serge is the mighty general of the troupe who continually wages war against the obstacles in his life, living independently within a partially supervised environment.

Two themes emphasized constantly throughout the film are: theatre as therapy; and the access to jobs as a step toward greater integration of people with intellectual disabilities into the mainstream of society. Both the director and the staff associated with "Pourquoi pas nous?" stress their belief that theatre leads to an increase in the development of social skills and self-image and gives the troupe members the courage to break out of isolation. All the actors have either full- or part-time jobs and are contributing members of society. "The Engagement" is a film about people who challenge life, and win.

This English film is an adaptation of the French original, "Les fiances de la tour Eiffel." "The Engagement," produced by Jacques Vallee, is somewhat shorter in length. One of my few criticisms of this film is that the style of translation into English (by translators Dagmar Tuefel and Kathleen Fee) adversely affects the continuity of the picture.

"The Engagement," which has a running time of 52 minutes and is closed-captioned, is available from the National Film Board for $26.95. To order, call 1-800-267-7710.

(Edward Jacobi is a freelance writer living in Niagara Falls, Ontario.)