About this Short Film
Anousha's Story, directed by James L Steward (Australia, 2014), presents a candid portrait of Anusha Flook as she talks about sailing, photography and pushing her own limits. Speaking directly to camera, Anusha describes how a youth sailing program led by her grandmother introduced her to racing, overseas regattas and voluntary photography work, and recalls climbing the Young Endeavour’s mast and weathering 40‑knot winds. The film’s tone is straightforward, curious and pragmatic, emphasising practical skill, teamwork and choice; Anusha, a person with a disability, reflects on how participation shapes her confidence and relationships. Audiences interested in sport, adaptive participation and everyday perspectives on ability will find it engaging — a fitting addition to Focus on Ability.
Film Details
Country:
Australia
Category:
Open Entrant Documentaries
Festival Year:
2014
Filmmaker:
James L Steward
Film Transcript
I got into sailing really through my grandmother because the sailing club which my grandma's a member of has a youth sailing program. She basically just signed me up and then I started going. I actually hated it for the first couple of years because I was such a battler at it, but I just kept going part time.
I do photography jobs every now and then and yeah, I love photojournalism and street photography and I also love selling photography as well. For a couple of the world championships we've had at my club I've just like volunteered to be the photographer, go out and take photos.
I really just love being on the water. There's so many elements to sailing. I like racing because you have the competition and there's the tactics and the strategy and the boats, and then you have the team element as well. Sailing's taken me to a couple of countries which has been really exciting — we sailed around the islands in Denmark and raced in the Netherlands.
I love sailing a lot of different types of boats. I've sailed on Lasers and Elixirs which could do match racing and I've also sailed on yachts. I don't really have a favourite — they're also different. But right now I'll be going on in England. It's a three-person boat originally originating from Norway.
The biggest challenge I face when I'm sailing is trying to figure out how to do things my way, which often can take a lot of time and effort and practice. That's probably why it took me a really long time to get into sailing, so enjoying it, because it took me a while to work out certain ways I would like tack the boat myself or drive the boat without like losing control.
On the Young Endeavour the main mast is about 33 metres high and they have like three checkpoints until you get to the top. To climb up to the very top of the mast you have to climb up the ladder which isn't actually vertically straight; it goes out at an angle. To get into the bird's nest you basically have to climb completely upside down and then kind of swing away, swing yourself inside. Obviously you're wearing a harness the whole time so if you fall you're safe, but still mentally you're climbing and you don't feel like you're tired on, and it's really draining, especially when you're climbing with like one arm and you're like holding on to your life and the boat's rocking to and fro.
When I went on the Young Endeavour we had some scary times. Like in the middle of the night we had like 40-knot winds and everyone had to get up and attack and jive the boat which took like 11 people just on the gym and that was pretty exhausting. We were flung from one side of the boat to the other. We all had our harnesses on tied onto the side of the boat in case anything happened.
I just really want to get into other big boat racing now, maybe some more actual racing which would be great — like some sailing coughs and stuff, maybe potentially sending you to Hobart depending on what boat I could get on, but I don't know, my mother would probably kill me. But yeah, something a bit more adventurous in other people's eyes.
I think people tend to sometimes respect me because I can keep up with their level and that sort of stuff, and it also makes people realise that having a disability really isn't anything because I can do the same thing as everyone else can do. From my disability I've definitely grown a lot of ability because I definitely feel like I tend to push myself harder and work at things a lot more than the average person would.
To inspire someone to go out and be adventurous — I know I definitely know the feeling of being nervous and not wanting to do something and like wanting to back out in the last minute — but sometimes you just have to go and do it, and most of the times everything works out fine and you're really happy and feel like you've achieved a lot in life. So just go for it.
Filmmaker
James L Steward is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from James L Steward.
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