Written by Jonah Azurin
When it comes to movies centered around a particular disability, oftentimes the actors cast face extensive training or research to portray their character, such as Sam Claflin in Me Before You (2016). That’s not the case with 4 Feet High, an episodic series about Juana, a teenager starting a new school who explores her sexuality and identity in a powered wheelchair. Starring Marisol Agustina Irigoyen, this coming-of-age story was the first cross-platform story to premiere as part of Sundance’s Indie Series and New Frontier program last month.
From the start, 4 Feet High makes it very clear that this story is not only about someone living life with a disability but rather life in Argentina as a teenager, fighting the social and political barriers of sex education in her new school, and exploring their bodies while dealing with friendships, family, and failure. We’re quickly drawn to Juana’s confidence and pride as we see her go on dates, attend parties, and encounter obstacles to feel accepted, but surrounded by adults who assume the best for her. The witty dialogue paired with stunning performances from the entire cast shows that people with disabilities and underrepresented people deserve and should be represented on screen. 4 Feet High is a compelling story to which anyone can connect, filled with love, heartbreak, and the thrill of being a teenager. Add in a beautiful and authentic first-time screen performance from Marisol Agustina Irigoyen and you’ll want more.
4 Feet High uses both 360 VR and the standard episodic television version for the series where the audience is able to capture the thrill — both good and bad — of being a teenager. The lively animations throughout the series add to the emotion of each scene, pulling the viewer in as they see these deeply moving drawings encapsulate the character’s inner dialogue, a great touch for Juana’s character as Irigoyen herself draws different animations. The music is incredibly fun and sensual, bringing about an authentic youthfulness to 4 Feet High. The sentimentality from the soundtrack is enough to tug at your heartstrings or get up and dance.
Directors María Belén Poncio and Rosario Perazolo Masjoan were very intentional in casting someone who uses a wheelchair. They discussed in the post-screening Q & A that they wanted to create opportunities for people with different bodies to be portrayed both behind and in front of the camera. Masjoan said, “I am a person with a disability in the community and we have a strong feeling that we don’t need a person acting like a person with a disability, we need a person with a disability acting in a character.” Poncio even gave an example of how difficult it was to bring Irigoyen to an in-person audition after meeting her online, explaining the difficulties a person with a disability faces when traveling in their community.
Still shot from 4 Feet High.
The cast and crew of 4 Feet High really pushed the boundaries. With a lack of representation on screen for people with disabilities, it’s not hard to imagine all the other stories that will come forth due to the path Poncio and Masjoan paved. The USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism released their 2020 Inequality in 1,300 Popular Films, revealing that “only 2.3% of all speaking characters across the 100 top-grossing films of 2019 were depicted with a disability” and “not one of the 500 movies evaluated featured speaking characters in line with the percentage of individuals living with a disability in the U.S. population (27%).” Especially during this moment in history— the novel pandemic, the Black Lives Matter Movement, the new administration in place, and ultimately the state of the world—this series couldn’t have come in a more perfect time. In other words, the entertainment industry will be better with projects like 4 Feet High out there, inspiring and educating their viewers.
Check out 4 Feet High played at Sundance until February 3. Head to www.4feethigh.com for news and updates on where the series will show next.