New documentary: BREAKING BARRIERS
Our next film challenges the concept of ‘beauty’ by following the personal journey of Rory McGuire - a young man affected by Venous Malformation - a facial birthmark which can attract unfriendly reactions from people.
Over the past few years Youmanity produced a number of educational films - all available for free on our YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@Youmanity.
Addressing pressing social issues, each film is directed to a wide audience, to inform and to inspire change. One such film explores the concept of ‘beauty’ and the importance society attaches to looks. Conversely, ‘ugliness’ is something no one wants, pressuring people to invest in beauty treatments. Attractiveness equates social acceptance. Research suggests that something is wired in our brains attracting us to people with facial/physical symmetry. This is because we automatically perceive attractive people as being more intelligent, trustworthy and socially desirable. So, what happens when someone does not pass the test of socially acceptable attractiveness? Believe it or not, we tend not to trust people who are not good looking. We associate unattractive people with negative connotations, including criminal behaviour and social failures.
Entitled BREAKING BARRIERS, our next film challenges the concept of ‘beauty’ by following the personal journey of Rory McGuire - a young man affected by Venous Malformation - a facial birthmark which can attract unfriendly reactions from people.
Rory McGuire age three
Growing up with a protruding malformation on his face, Rory McGuire was at the receiving end of years of abuse. He was called by many different derogatory names, including Pirates of the Caribbean’s Davey Jones, who had tentacles growing out of his face. Being subjected to constant public humiliations resulted in Rory’s social isolation and a desire to achieve facial symmetry by means of surgery. Rory has now undergone more than 20 operations on his facial birthmark. Each surgery was debilitating raising the question as to why anyone would need to undergo such major operations in order to fit within parameters of human attractiveness.
Rory McGuire undergoing yet another major operation on his birthmark
A turning point in Rory’s life was posting on Facebook how he felt about his facial birthmark, the bullying he had suffered becauFmemse of the way he looked and the social isolation central to his life. Rory received a huge amount of loving messages from people all over the world. Talking about his condition allowed Rory to express his feelings which in turn started an important healing process, allowing the young man to embrace his facial uniqueness.
In ‘Breaking Barriers’, Rory shares an intimate account of what was like growing up with a facial disfigurement. More importantly, Rory shares his contentedness and acceptance for the way he looks. Recently, a surgeon offered him a procedure to remove the birthmark, to a level of perfection that people would not know it had been there in the first place. Rory declined. He is now happy the way he looks, with the birthmark making him feel blessed for he has a totally unique face.
“It was very cathartic for me to talk very openly on camera during the filming of Breaking Barriers. Just as cathartic was visiting places which I have childhood memories, some which are good and some which are bad - but all of which are very important to my story. The documentary shows an emotional timeline of where I have been in the past compared to where I am now. It is very powerful even for me to see how far I have come in terms of confidence and happiness. I hope that anyone watching Breaking Barriers can take positivity and inspiration from it,” says Rory McGuire.
The film also shows that one should not judge a book by its cover at a time society is obsessed by ‘beautiful’ images, both of people and things. Beauty should be about making a positive impact on people around us. What should matter are the experiences we share with others and the legacy we leave behind.
Breaking Barriers, produced by Dmitry Malyshev, directed by Angelo Iudice and Anton Phatianov, has received a number of accolades. In 2023 the documentary was shown at the Cannes Film Festival, the Zurich Film Festival, the Geneva Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival.
Over the next seven weeks we will publish a series of photographs celebrating Rory McGuire’s personal journey and life achievements. Anyone experiencing isolation because of the way they look and seek some advice, they can contact Rory: @vmrory1993. No one should ever feel they are alone in this world.
