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Think of Me First as a Person

Name: Think of Me First as a Person
Director: George Ingmire
Released: 1975
Duration: 9 min

Representation Score

5.3/10

Fair

1975

Director

George Ingmire

Runtime

9 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Think of Me First as a Person is a deeply personal documentary that uses archival home movies to study Dwight Core, Jr., a person with Down syndrome. The film focuses on his life through a familial lens, avoiding clinical or tragic portrayals typical of 1970s media. While the film excels in representing disability, it falls short in other areas of diversity. There is no information about the racial identity of the subjects or any LGBTQ+ themes, making the diversity profile narrow. The film's value lies in its unfiltered, observational study of neurodivergence, transforming private family history into a significant exploration of personhood.

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Category Breakdown

Does Think of Me First as a Person have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

There are no LGBTQ+ characters or themes in the film. The focus is solely on the life of a person with Down syndrome.

How does Think of Me First as a Person portray gender?

Fair

The home movie footage depicts a traditional family structure. The film does not challenge traditional gender roles or hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Think of Me First as a Person?

Fair

The racial identity of the Core family is not specified in the documentation. Due to the lack of information, a neutral baseline is assumed.

How does Think of Me First as a Person represent religion and culture?

Good

The film challenges the clinical detachment often associated with disability in the 1970s. It emphasizes the individual's humanity over a purely medical perspective.

Does Think of Me First as a Person include disability representation?

Excellent

The film's primary strength lies in its nuanced portrayal of a person with Down syndrome. Longitudinal footage offers a dignified look at neurodivergent life.

Present on Screen

Provides a long-term, authentic portrait of a person with Down syndrome.
Avoids 'inspiration porn' by emphasizing ability to act and human dignity.
Challenges the medical model of disability through a personal, observational approach.

Limited or Absent

Does not address the racial or ethnic identity of the subjects.
Does not engage with or represent LGBTQ+ themes.
Limited exploration of gender dynamics or subversions.

Official Synopsis

Documentary film and home movie about Dwight Core, Jr., a boy with Down syndrome. The footage was originally shot throughout the 1960s and 1970s by Core's father, Dwight Core, Sr. The footage was later discovered and completed by the filmmaker's grandson, George Ingmire.

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