Love Actually

[lou33]

Did anyone who saw Love Actually notice Colin Firth using the word "spaz"? I'm so upset and angry about it I have emailed Richard Curtis' agent, and asked them to pass it on for a reply. Also copied it to Scope, to see what they think?

Am really disappointed that a writer as successful as RC feels he needs to lower himself that much. It's bad enough anyone saying it, but to put it in a film being seen right around the world?! How dare he make fun of people for sometihng out of their control! If he made a racist slur, insulted a religion would that be allowed? I don't think so.

I've noticed a few films recently taking the p out of disabled/sn people. Is it because there are so many rules and regulations for every other group, but none protecting the disabled?

Sorry I am really really upset by it. I rewound the tape just to be sure, and it's been on my mind since last night.

I am surprised as well as disapointed.

In the past I have always thought that RC has a positive attitude to people with disabilities. People with disabilities have been portrayed in his films as 'just people', which I thought was good.

Very upsetting.

I know, I was so surprised I had to go back and check. But there he is, pulling his jumper off and about to jump in the lake saying he doesnt want to look a spaz.

I'm really disappointed to hear this, lou - haven't seen it yet and it was on my wish list - I probably will still watch it but it'll take the shine off.

Lou, pass on the email details for Richard Curtis' agent and I will email too. I know they can't take it out of the film now but perhaps he will think before using such an offensive term again, in the name of humour. It's sickening to think of people laughing at that line in the cinema as it reinforces the idea that it's OK to say something like that. I honestly didn't think anyone used the term spaz any more

I was going to buy a copy for my Mum for Mother's Day (we rented ours from Blockbuster) but as Janh says it's really taken the shine off it now. I got her flowers and a book instead.

I'm sorry you've been so (justifiably) upset by this..((HUGS)))

Sorry Lou , if I had known it was about this,I havent seen the film, but I would have been totally there with u. I am sorry to have barged in on the conversation, I was just really pleased about something and in a jovial mood. I am normally very very sensitive & never flippant.

I have been in a room when confronted with a slur on my religion,it went something like "I cant stand........", so NO I dont think it is acceptable as I feel it is in the same vain. I would also want to write in too. I dont know why words like this have to be used. It is a shock when things like this occur and of course you will feel very passionate about it and rightly so. I agree with marthmoo, I really didnt think it was an acceptable word these days , especially in a film like this.

Thanks all. The address I used was [email protected] . If the thread gets big enough I am going to direct them to this link as well. One voice may do nothing, but a whole group of angry mums should at least make him think again.

Melsy, thanks. I'm sorry I snapped, but it is a subject close to my heart. I appreciate you taking time to apologise, and I can see now you didn't mean to upset me.

MM we still hear it. Dh was fishing a couple of months ago, and had to pack up and leave, as he was near a group of fools who were using the term freely .

If anyone is interested I could paste my email here.

Just caught up with this thread, Lou. I (naively) thought that people now knew better than to use those kinds of words. Obviously I was wrong.

Please post a copy of your e-mail.

Ok, here it is. i didn't sit for ages, just banged it out from emotion, so it might not be the best phrased email in the world.

I would appreciate it if you could forward this onto Mr Curtis, as I would be very interested in his response to my following question.

I sat down last night to watch Love Actually with my husband, hoping to enjoy a light comedy, and relax after a stressful day of looking after my children, one of whom is disabled.

All was going well, until what do I hear? Colin Firth using the word "Spaz", possibly one of the most offensive terms that can be used in modern times. I wasn't entirely sure I heard correctly, so rewound it and listened again. There it was.

I wonder what Mr Curtis thought he had to gain by putting it into his film? I hope he realises he has , by doing so, offended many thousands of people with children, partners, relatives who have cerebral palsy, myself included.

I have a 3 year old boy who has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. We , and later my son, will ,and do face battles everyday to stamp down the prejudices and hurtful comments that are attributed to this condition, and to think that he could use this truly offensive word in such a casual and thoughtless manner is just mindboggling. Next time I hear that word bandied about, will I have him to thank? Will it be because someone heard it in his film and thought it funny?

I wonder if Mr Curtis has actually spent any time with people with cerebral palsy, and seen the struggles they face? Would he be so ready to use the "n" word or call someone a p*ki in his films so eagerly? Disability is not funny, it's just the only part of life where rules and regulations are not appiled as strictly as with racial or religious insults, and Mr Curtis is taking advantage of that.

I wonder if he would like to come and visit my 3 year old boy, who is still unable to walk, cannot sit up properly without help, and can only crawl, but is incredibly smart, funny, and VERY aware of the fact he cannot walk while others can, and explain to us and him why he felt it would be amusing to make fun of his condition?

Does he not think that life is hard enough for people with disabilities as it is?

I am copying this to my contact at Scope for their opinion as well. Maybe Mr Curtis would be better advised next time he decides to expose the vulnerabilities of others to help ensure he has a big hit. I thought better of him, I was wrong.

Yours sincerely

Ks, say what you feel.

Thanks xx

Yes, and there was a character in Notting Hill in a wheelchair without it being made a big thing of.

Lou, that's a really, really good email. I was be mortified to read it if I were him. I should definitely send him a link to this thread; I will certainly vote with my feet and not buy the DVD. I would have thought better of Colin Firth to be honest, too- what did he think he was doing?

I know I agree. He has put two positive role models into previous films, so why now has he done such an offensive thing?

I thought the same thing about CF too. I'm surprised he agreed to even say it. Shame on both of them.

And why didn't the censors ask for it to be taken out?

Lou, I have put my keyboard where my mouth is and emailed him. This is what I said:

I have always admired your work and was very much looking forward to seeing "Love Actually" when it became available to buy. Watching the DVD last night I was horrified to hear the Colin Firth character use the word "spaz" as he was about to jump into the lake. It was completely unnecessary to include such a derogatory and offensive word in your screenplay.

I have a friend whose son has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, I know she has emailed you too. I wanted you to know that it is not just people whose lives have been directly affected by disability who are incensed by this. The fact that Colin Firth's character said the word to himself, in a soliloquy (ironically the only character with any chance of hearing him was splashing about in a lake and non English speaking to boot) attempts to draw us - the audience - into a kind of collusion with that kind of thinking. His character was intelligent, appealing and sensitive - not the sort of person who would use a word like "spaz" amongst his peers. The implication is that while we may not use the word in public, we use it in private. This is a word that should be allowed to vanish into anachronistic oblivion - and to use it in such a way, and in the name of humour, is completely unacceptable.

Does that sound OK? The more I have thought about this this afternoon the angrier I have got

Lou, I agree - totally unacceptable, I'm going to email too. I don't remember this from seeing it at the cinema and I'm shocked tbh. (Terrible film IMO ks, you're not missing much)

And Richard Curtis has got 3 (?) children so you'd just have thought he'd be a bit more aware and sensitive wouldn't you?

Thanks www, I thought the acting in most parts was terrible. Bill Nighy deserved to have the entire film to himself imo.

Marthamoo, that is a great email.

Thanks so much everyone for supporting me. I just feel I can't let this go. My saying nothing is allowing such phrases to perpetuate, and thereby accepting they are ok to use.

I want him to look my son in the eyes and tell me and him why he thinks his condition is funny.

OK, I've emailed too. Will let you know if I get a response.

He's got 3 children, just looked it up. 2 boys and a girl with Emma Freud.

Thanks www. Now I'm getting tearful from all your support. Better than crying from RC's insensitivity though

I've just sent an e-mail to the address you posted, Lou. I said that parents of SN children have enough to deal with without having to hear this kind of language - especially from people in the street who think that it must be an acceptable word to use because they've heard it in such a popular film. I also mentioned that we were holding an unofficial boycott of the film/dvd and that this would hopefully demonstrate the depth of our feelings about this issue.

I hope their e-mail box gets clogged up with all our messages.

Thanks coppertop, so do I! Is it realistic to expect a proper reply, and not a computer generated fob off, do you think?