_waterdance_ explore a wide variety of aspect of the life of the spinally injure artfully . from the petty torment of faulty fluorescent light flash overhead to sexuality and masculinity and depression and the experience of disability be lay open . the diversity of the central character themselves underscore the complexity of the material examine joel and the writer and raymond and the black man with a murky past and and bloss and the racist biker . at first and these men be unite by nothing other than the nature of their injury and but retain their competitive spirit . over time and share experience and both good and bad and bring them together a friend to support one another . most obvious of the transformation be that experience by joel and who initially distance himself from his fellow patient with sunglass and headphone and curtain . a he come to accept the change that disablement have make to his life and joel discard these prop and begin to involve himself in the struggle of the men with whom he share the ward . the dance refer to in the title be a reference to this daily struggle to keep one head above water while to give up the dance be to reject life . _waterdance_ be a move and powerful film on many level and and i do not hesitate to recommend it .