There are certain films that you watch at the Indy-based Heartland International Film Festival and you immediately say to yourself "That's a Heartland film!" 

Anthony Lucero's The Paper Bag Plan is such a film. 

In the film, which had its world premiere during Heartland's opening weekend of the 2024 festival, Oscar (Lance Kinsey) is a father who has dedicated his life to the well-being of Billy (Cole Massie), his disabled son. When Oscar is diagnosed with cancer, he develops a plan to train his son the intricacies of bagging groceries in the hopes of landing Billy his first ever job and beginning a life of independence. 

Ah, how refreshing. 

A well-told, beautifully realized story involved around the positive potential of people living with disabilities. Even better, in The Paper Bag Plan Billy is portrayed by actor Cole Massie, a veteran actor living and succeeding with cerebral palsy. 

Win/win. 

As one of the nation's leading disabled film journalists, I will confess I started my time with The Paper Bag Plan with suspicious eyes. The film won me over, mostly owing to Massie's finely nuanced and genuine performance and a story that warms the heart while generally portraying the reality of disability and competitive employment realistically. I will confess a certain bias myself - I left the safety and security of living on disability benefits in my mid-20's as my desire for a more meaningful life outweighed my fears and anxieties over the seemingly endless list of negative possibilities. I've never looked back and now serve as director of provider services for Indiana's Bureau of Disabilities Services in my full-time gig. Between that full-time gig and my successful creative pursuits, I've built my good life. 

So, despite the sadness of what triggers Billy's move toward independence I found myself being both film journalist and cheerleader. 

The Paper Bag Plan features a strong ensemble cast including Massie's aforementioned turn along with that of Lance Kinsey as his long loyal father now facing the realities of getting older and facing his own limitations. It's a dynamic faced by families with children and adults with disabilities around the world. Both Ravi Kapoor and Diana Lee Inosanto are also particularly strong here, however, this was an ensemble I really appreciated throughout. 

It could likely be said that The Paper Bag Plan occasionally dips into those seemingly inherent "inspiration porn" moments, however, for the most part Lucero avoids them and crafts a relatable, familiar, and incredibly engaging story vividly brought to life by a quality cast and crew. Original music by Alex Mandel is low-key yet meaningful throughout and Gill Gayle's production design is naturally immersive and effective throughout. 

Heartland International Film Festival is an ideal fest for the world premiere of The Paper Bag Plan and there's no doubt this crowd-pleaser will find success on the indie fest circuit before hopefully finding a strong indie distribution option to bring it to an even wider audience. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic