Have you seen Wonder, the heartwarming film starring Vancouver-born Jacob Tremblay? In it, he plays a boy born with a condition that resulted in facial deformities. When he turns 10, his parents decide it’s time for him to attend regular school and he must face the inherent challenges. It’s a film that teaches the importance of kindness, and it’s also a film that that introduces us to one resilient and determined individual.

In our collection, we have many films about people—especially children—who faced difficult physical challenges, and how they rose above. These are films about everyday heroes, and here are three of them.

I’ll Find a Way

This Oscar®-winning doc from Beverly Shaffer was made as part of the Children of Canada series, and features an incredibly charming 9-year-old Nadia, born with spina bifida. All she wants is to be among her peers, and despite her scant years, she’s brave enough to deal with any obstacles in her way.

I'll Find a Way, Beverly Shaffer, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

My Friends Call Me Tony

Meet 10-year-old Tony, a sweet boy who stars in another Beverly Shaffer doc from the Children of Canada series. Tony is only able to see shadow, due to a brain tumor he had removed when he was very young. Though technically blind, he’s developed some incredible ways to live in our world. He’s certainly more capable in the kitchen than my perfectly-sighted 12-year-old son.

My Friends Call Me Tony, Beverly Shaffer, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Between the Laughter

I was drawn to this doc because I’ve done some stand-up comedy, and I’m willing to admit that a huge motivating factor is hearing the crowd laugh. Well, meet Stephen O’Keefe, a deaf stand-up comic. Rather than withdraw into a life of silence, he chose to step forward make some noise.

Between the Laughter, Barbara K. Lee, provided by the National Film Board of Canada