Based on the true story of Richard Pimentel
Directed and Produced by Steven Sawalich and Brett Donowho
Written by Bret McKinney, Mark Andrew Olsen, and Kelly Kennemer Movie Review by Jessica Woodard I venture to say that few people recognize the name Richard Pimental or know of his influential role in the writing and passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). "Music Within" will fix that! As we journey through Pimentel's dysfunctional childhood and on to adulthood, we form a connection with this big-hearted man out to change the world. After 7 miscarriages in 8 years, Pimentel's mother finally has Richard. Unfortunately, the miscarriages have left a woman suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, post partum depression and unable to properly parent her coveted child. After the death of his father, Pimentel goes to live with his grandparents. Here he takes an interest in public speaking and excels, though not enough to make a renowned public speaking team that would have paid his way through college. Instead, he joins the military for a tour in Vietnam—and there finds a true motivation for speaking. During his tour, a bomb explodes in Pimentel's tent and he loses his hearing. Later, he is diagnosed with tinnitus. Richard learns to deal with the difficulties associated with his loss of hearing and the constant ringing in his ear. He finds out that he has a hard time hearing consonants but can hear vowels. He quickly learns to read lips in order to communicate with others. He also learns that not all people are accepting of someone with a disability. During college he meets genius Art Honneyman and they quickly become inseparable. Art has cerebral palsy and is not easily understood, yet Pimentel does understand him and begins to translate for him, creating some humorous moments in the film. After college, Pimentel starts to work for an organization that helps disabled veterans and people with other disabilities find jobs. With his irresistible personality and excellent speaking skills, he is offered a job putting together a manual titled "Tilting at Windmills," which was used to train government officials and corporate executives on hiring and working with people with disabilities—the humble beginnings of a life's work that included advancing the ADA. Witty, humorous and sometimes tragic, "Music Within" will touch your heart and provoke you to think differently. We realize that one doesn't have to qualify for special license plates to be disabled. The obesity, hearing loss, chronic migraines and even emotions can cause disability. Pimentel took that general concept and did what he could to help disabled people have a voice in society. "Music Within" is a poignant reminder of how far we have come since the 1970s. It's a movie about the passion of one man with a purpose to change the way government, corporations and even mom-and-pop businesses treat people with disabilities. Jessica Woodard is a freelance writer based in Odessa, Texas. E-mail her at jessicawoodard05@hotmail.com. |
