Independent Owen (Michael Roberts, Australia, 2023) sits in the Focus on Ability programme as a concise exploration of independence, inclusion and achievement. Rather than offering a conventional narrative, the film reflects on themes around congenital disability, Down syndrome, employment and sport for teenagers with intellectual disability. Its tone is respectful and optimistic, inviting audiences to consider everyday choices, challenges and successes without sensationalising them. As part of the festival, Independent Owen contributes to a broader conversation about access and opportunity, and highlights why stories about young people with disability belong on screen. A short, thoughtful piece from a filmmaker interested in representation and possibility.
This is my brother Owen, and he has Down syndrome. I woke up in 7, got to do a bit. I'm doing backflips. Down syndrome is an intellectual disability, and despite this, Owen completed Year 12 last year, and now has two jobs to get ready for. One job is at the well-known Loon Croissantery, and the other is at Epworth Hospital in East Melbourne. Owen loves the routine. He independently gets himself ready for the day, and having got himself up in the morning, he gets his own breakfast and packs his lunch before unpacking the dishwasher. Owen then heads out to catch a bus to work. This is quite a challenge for him. Safely navigating the streets and the bus timetables. Owen lives his life to the fullest, holding his head high while maintaining his can-do attitude towards everything. I'm unstoppable. I'm a virtue beyond race. I'm invincible, and I will never cease to be. Here we go! I've only got a few years to live. I'm so confident. Owen's can-do attitude and zest for life has been recognised by customers and staff alike at Loon, Who hold Owen in high regard for his genuinely positive charisma. Owen wants to do things for himself. He doesn't want too much assistance, often saying, I'll do it myself. At the end of the day, he makes his way home on the bus and then gets ready to do it all again the next day. He loves to chill out by playing a few video games on the PC he bought himself with his own earnings. You've got a basketball comp today. Competition! You've got three or four games you're going to play. A lot. A lot, yes. Owen loves to work hard, but he also enjoys playing hard in various sports. Owen is an accomplished sportsman, playing basketball for Special Olympics. He recently competed for Victoria in athletics at the Special Olympics National Games in Launceston, bringing home two bronze medals for the 4x100m relay and 200m sprint, a silver medal for the 400m, and placing fifth in the 800m sprint. Owen has also medalled at the Snow Sports Nationals in the multi-class Giant Slalom and has just started playing cricket and tennis. In order to do this, Owen trains twice a week with his personal trainer Alistair, doing a mixture of running and weight training to keep in peak physical form. Once a week, Owen cooks a meal for the family. Cool, nice clean beach. Having chosen the recipe himself, he heads off to the supermarket to gather the necessary ingredients he will need to make the dish. What are you making now, Owen? I'm making insects. Insects what? Biscuits. Oh, how do you roll them? Quite often, he will round off the meal by either making a batch of biscuits or a dessert. Without any cracks. Pardon? Without any cracks. Without any cracks, cool. Money? Without money. It's not crying, is it? Oh yeah, look at that! Go Owen! I'm unstoppable today. I'm unstoppable today. I'm unstoppable today.
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Independent Owen by Michael Roberts (2023)
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