Joni

Joni Eareckson, who became a quadriplegic after breaking her spine in a diving accident, plays herself here. After surgery prove futile, she returns to her parents' ranch in Maryland filled with despair, starts sketching and painting (holding the brushes in her mouth), and slowly begins to adjust to her condition. The film attempts to deal realistically with the problems of the handicapped, particularly the manner in which they are perceived by others. Eventually, Eareckson finds solace in religion, and the film shows her speaking to church crowds about her new-found faith. Eareckson does a fine job with the difficult task of reliving her life for the movie screen,...