I Didn't See You There

As a visibly disabled person, filmmaker Reid Davenport sets out to make a film about how he sees the world, from either his wheelchair or his two feet, without having to be seen himself. The unexpected arrival of a circus tent outside his apartment in Oakland, CA leads him to consider the history and legacy of P.T. Barnum’s Freak Show and its lingering presence in his daily life in the form of gawking, lack of access, and other forms of ableism.

Informed by his position in space, lower to the ground, Davenport captures indelible images, often abstracted into shapes and patterns separate from their meaning. But the circus tent looms in the background, and is reverberated by tangible on-screen interruptions, from unsolicited offers of help to careless blocking of ramps. 

Personal and unflinching, I Didn't See You There forces the viewer to confront the spectacle and invisibility of disability. Offering both a perspective and stylistic approach that are rarely seen, Reid brings an urgently needed storytelling eye to filmmaking with a documentary that is powerful and emotional, thoughtful and raw, intimate and political.

Free admission. The screening is part of "Stories about Deafness and disability", a three-part film series sponsored by Student Disability Services at Cornell. 

Note: The opening sequence of this film includes a scene with rapid motion and repeating patterns that may not be suitable for those with photosensitive epilepsy or visually-induced motion sickness. If you have concerns, we encourage you to join the film showing approximately 4 minutes after the film begins.

This film will be shown with open captions. Assistive listening headsets will also be made available upon request. More information about Cornell Cinema accessibility.

Courtesy of Good Docs. Film website: https://www.ididntseeyoutherefilm.com/.