This film is based on the true story of renowned author and social activist Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a college degree and also from Harvard, which I found inspiring and fascinating. She goes on to publish twelve books and essays on things like disability, women’s suffrage, animal activism, and world peace. ‘The Miracle Worker’ covers her childhood, where her journey to greatness begins. After consulting doctors and the Perkins Institute for the Blind, Keller’s parents hired Perkins alumni Anne Sullivan as Keller’s teacher and aide. Sullivan had also been blind growing up before nine surgeries returned a piece of her vision. She uses her experience to teach Keller the essence of what it is to be human. It is a monumental task to teach the intricacies of human life to someone who can’t see, hear, or talk. The story is told from the perspective of Sullivan, who was later given the title Miracle Worker by Mark Twain (Twain was also one of Keller’s friends). Truly hats off to both Sullivan and Keller.

The acting and directing were mind-blowing, especially in teaching scenes with no dialogue to draw upon. I cannot even imagine how some of these scenes were brought to life. The ladies playing Sullivan (Anne Bancroft) and Keller (Patty Duke) both won an Oscar for this. 110% deserved. Several scenes are unforgettable. I won’t discuss them all, but one scene stood out to me where Sullivan is teaching Keller the basics of etiquette, such as eating food with a spoon and using/folding a napkin to keep clothes clean. We might think of it as not a big deal, but it’s a very different story for someone limited to just the feeling of touch. Such a person would have no comprehension of the ideas of etiquette, and nothing in their past sense experiences to draw from. Babies learn most of what they know by watching and language by listening. In this scene, Keller’s instinct is to toss food in her mouth with her hands like a chimpanzee would. Sullivan has to teach her that is not how we in our civilization are supposed to act. Keller was also still a child then, so Sullivan had to overcome her temper tantrums and lack of knowledge of how civilized humans are to behave. Over time, Sullivan taught Keller the idea of language, of the fact that we humans have a word for everything. One word at a time, entirely through her sense of touch until it dawns on her what Sullivan’s aim was. She goes on to change history through her written words. I don’t think most people can grasp something of that magnitude.

Would I recommend this? Yes, the story is marvelous, and this film is a masterclass on the art of acting. It stands the test of time. I had heard of Helen Keller before in my history classes, but I did not know how she overcame her deaf-blind disability. This film left me flabbergasted to see a window into it. To me, it’s a story of courage, persistence, and willpower. Keller was still alive when this film was made in 1962.

8/10