A Raw, Honest, and Deeply Moving Experience
MOVIE REVIEW
My Own Normal
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Genre: Documentary, Drama, Romance
Year Released: 2024, 2025
Runtime: 57m
Director(s): Alexander Freeman
Where To Watch: shown at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival; for more information, please visit www.myownnormalmovie.com and www.outcast-productions.com
RAVING REVIEW: MY OWN NORMAL doesn’t ask for sympathy but exists as an unapologetic and deeply personal account of life, love, and self-definition. It doesn’t try to change minds—it simply presents a reality that few get to see, which challenges outdated notions about disability without making it the sole focus.
Alexander Freeman, the filmmaker, and the main subject, has spent years crafting work highlighting underrepresented voices, tackling themes of disability, mental health, and relationships with rawness. But MY OWN NORMAL is his most personal project yet, and that immediacy makes it so compelling. The camera isn’t just documenting his life—it’s a tool that allows him to tell his story on his terms. It’s one thing to see a film about disability made by an outsider; it’s entirely different when the person at the center of the narrative is also shaping it. Freeman takes control of his narrative, refusing to let others dictate how his story should be told.
The editing choices allow moments to breathe, making each scene feel more lived-in rather than simply presented. The balance between personal moments—his relationship with Orina, the arrival of their child, the evolving dynamic with his parents—and the larger issues surrounding disability and independence gives the film an emotional weight without veering into sentimentality. Freeman isn't interested in presenting a glossy, sanitized version of his life. Instead, he embraces the messy, complicated, and deeply human reality of building a future on his terms.
The film is filled with quiet victories and hard conversations, from navigating the unexpected pregnancy news to dealing with a system that often challenges autonomy. Freeman and Orina’s decision to have a commitment ceremony rather than a legal marriage is a striking example, showcasing the frustrating ways policies limit personal freedom.
The film also explores the complexities of family, particularly how love and fear can coexist. Freeman’s parents have supported him his entire life, yet when they learn he is expecting a child, their reaction is not immediate excitement but concern. It’s not a lack of faith in him but an uncertainty about the challenges ahead. Many families can relate to this moment of honesty, and the documentary doesn’t shy away from showing these difficult conversations. What’s remarkable is how the film never paints anyone as a villain. Instead, it allows people to grow, understand, and embrace what initially seemed impossible.
From a filmmaking perspective, MY OWN NORMAL embraces a minimalist but effective approach. Freeman forgoes dramatic reenactments or overly polished cinematography in favor of intimate, observational storytelling. Home videos add authenticity, making the viewer feel less like an observer and more like a participant in his journey. There’s also a poetic use of recurring visual motifs, particularly water, reinforcing life's unpredictability and fluid nature.
MY OWN NORMAL is a testament to the idea that normal is whatever we choose to make it. It doesn’t seek to redefine disability narratives; it simply tells the truth. Freeman’s story is not just about the obstacles he faces but about his life, the love he’s found, and the family he’s created. There’s no need for embellishment—his journey speaks for itself. This film stays with you long after the credits roll, a reminder that the best stories are the ones that refuse to fit into a prepackaged mold.
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[photo courtesy of OUTCAST PRODUCTIONS, PROJECT 10K FILMS]
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