A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 7
How about a possible family film “Duck Teaches Disabled Boy To Walk”:
When Finlay Lomax had a stroke after his premature birth, doctors said he’d never walk again. No doubt you’ve heard that line before, but have you ever heard of a duck being the one to prove doctors wrong?
Finlay’s mother, Becci Lomax, had nearly given up hope until Ming-Ming, a lame duck, gave her son the inspiration he needed, Reuters reported.
“Ming-Ming came into our lives with a splayed leg and needed his own little casting, like Finlay usually has his little cast on,” Lomax said. “Finlay’s kind of able to see himself in the duck.”
It’s My Left Foot (1989) meets Fly Away Home (1996). And this is a case where you’d want to pursue the rights to the real story. It’s a remarkable tale in so many ways and I think the mother hits on a significant theme the story could explore: The boy being able to ‘see’ himself in the duck.
Animal-human stories are so often about the ‘humanity’ the animals demonstrate and reflect back to the person. And in a way, humans can have an even deeper or at least more special dynamic with animals than other humans.
Not sure if there’s enough of a story here, so obviously you’d have to dig deeper into the real-life family. But the core dynamic — the bond between a child and a duck, both of them lame, helping each other — that’s strong emotionally laden stuff. And no matter how cynical or jaded society seems to be, every so often a movie like The Blind Side comes along, a story that combines drama, humor, and pathos, and connects with a huge audience.
Does it feel like a good family movie to you?