At the beginning of the film, we see a brief synopsis:
"In 1979, forty extraordinary people took to the stage. Labelled by society as mentally handicapped, isolated and hidden away in institutions since early childhood, they came to the Sydney Opera House and gave a performance that held audiences spellbound. STEPPING OUT tells the joyous story of that event, focusing especially on two members of the group: 31 year old Chris Dobbin, a dancer of extraordinary talent, and his girlfriend Romayne Grace, 21, who provides the film's commentary.
The film was chosen by UNESCO for screening at the official closing ceremony for International Year of Disabled Persons, Paris 1981."
Chris Noonan also won an AFI AWARD for Best Documentary in 1981.
Yes, the story is about their performance at the Sydney Opera House, but Writer/Director Chris Noonan has skilfully given us a wonderful story on the lives of the actors. Their stories are woven into the rehearsals, the fitting of costumes, their dancing, dance exercises, and their daily lives at the Lorna Hodgkinson Sunshine House in Sydney where some have lived since early childhood.
I was taken back to another time when disability was seldom mentioned, and through this wonderful film, we enter their lives. The film is quite touching as we learn of their fears, aspirations, and thoughts of the future.
Throughout, we see and hear the drama teacher Aldo Gennaro helping build the actors' confidence through movement and breathing. He is more worried than anyone about the grand performance, but they don't let him down.
The filming backstage at the Opera House, as the actors dress, get made-up and wait in the wings, captures the tense moments and emotion of the event. All masterfully filmed by cinematographer Dean Semler.
And once the costumes and masks appear, the disabilities disappear.
You can find more on the Australian Screen website, where they mention the sad passing of Aldo Gennaro in 1987.
I was fortunate to find the film on Kanopy - the free international library streaming service.
