Still Smiling (Kate Chandulal-Dee, New Zealand, 2023) is a quietly powerful short that highlights themes of achievement, motivation and the everyday realities of living with Croutzon Syndrome and hearing loss. Rather than offering easy answers, the film dwells on the effects of operations, physical disability and the small choices that keep a smile in place. It speaks to young adults and anyone interested in stories about perseverance and dignity. Presented in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival, Still Smiling complements the programme with a thoughtful, human perspective on ability, reminding audiences that accomplishment often comes in unexpected forms.
Hei, I'm Kate. 137 operations, nearly died, still smiling. I'm amazing. I was born with a condition called Crouzon Syndrome that gives my face this unique, never-before-seen feature. I've had what's called a scoliosis repair with two long titanium rods down the whole of my spine. I've had craniofacial surgery, you may want to look that up, neurosurgeries, and I've had a tube in my neck from when I was 2 years old to when I was 13 years old that helps me to breathe and opens up my airway, called a trache. I have what's called hydrocephaly and I have three shunts in my brain and spine. I've got a feeding tube in my stomach because I can't eat in the normal way. And when I was 5 and 6 years old, I was in hospital again and I was fighting an infection of something called meningitis. I almost died. I only lost one thing though and that was my hearing. But luckily I got given some very special and rather snazzy hearing aids. I've had multiple eye surgeries. To summarise all together, these surgeries and many others, I have had 137 operations. Oh no, here's another one, 138. So that's all the difficult stuff that's happened to me. I want to focus on the good stuff. So as I said, I had my trache out when I was 13. That was so amazing, not only could I breathe on my own for the first time, but it opened up a whole scope of all these things I could learn to do that I had never done before. Do you know I've written four books? And had one officially published through Scholastics Publishing. It's called A Walk In My Shoe. I even got a letter from the now late Queen Elizabeth II. I've been learning to eat from when I was 14 years old. My favourite food so far is pizza. I especially love going to the beach. I've been learning to read. I've been learning to read. I've been learning to read. I've been learning to read. I've been learning to read. Even if you look different, that doesn't amount to who you are on the inside. Think of yourself like a present. After all, you are a present to the world. Others at first may judge you on your wrapping paper, how you look on the outside, but what you need to do is open yourself up. Unfold that paper by showing your amazing ability and bring that present that is your true self out. And show the world your gift. And when you're going through those difficult times in life, my advice is remember the things that there are to love. Remember what there is to reach out for. There is so much in the world. Some challenges you can't get rid of altogether, but you can use your way to move through them. The hard things in life, after all, can only make the good things shine brighter. And always remember, no matter who you are, you have a very special person and the world needs a person like you in it. Be true to yourself and enjoy the adventure of your life. Still smiling!
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Still Smiling by Kate Chandulal-Dee (2023)
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Still Smiling
by Kate Chandulal-Dee - INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARIES
