MovieChat Forums > Le chiavi di casa (2004) Discussion > What Disease Does Paolo Have?

What Disease Does Paolo Have?

posted 17 years ago by matmoller
3 replies | jump to latest

I'm aware that the actor Andrea Rossi has muscular dystrophy, but have the writers or directors of the film ever commented on what disease does the fictional Paolo has? It apparently is something more than MD or ALS, as it appears to have affected Paolo's behavior and thought processes in addition to his physical body. A German nurse mentions epilepsy at one point (possibly a mistake in the translation?), and in another scene Paolo has a "fit" after his father forgets to give him his medicine. Any thoughts?

[–] tagguy 17 years ago

Cerebral palsey, maybe? Autism seems to be prevelant,also.

I have become comfortably numb

[–] soo-soo 15 years ago

He had a traumatic birth, in which his mother dies,deprived of oxygen at a vital time : it was said that he was delivered too late for a proper cesarean section. I would have said neurological damage as a result of the birth accident (I'm not a doctor, but have had children and you get deeply interested in the subject at the time)

[–] rollstuhlwolf 15 years ago

As someone who has worked with disabled people and has muscular atrophy himself, I would say there is a high likelihood of Cerebral Palsy. I know the media reports him having muscular dystrophy, but mannerisms, excitability, movement, speech....everything I seen him do in this movie looks more like Cerebral Palsy. Including the birthing circumstances in which he came into this world. (In the film)