My Beautiful Stutter is a documentary outlining the difficulties that those with a stutter face in everyday life as they work towards confidence. The film is mainly based at a camp called SAY in North Carolina that is solely for stutterers.

According to the film, experts define a stutter as “an involuntary disruption of the rhythm and flow of speech.” My Beautiful Stutter goes into great detail about what causes a stutter, how it affects people, and the ways that individuals cope with this disability. It features different places that people can go to discuss the trials they have faced and be around individuals who share their struggle.

Throughout the film, viewers are shown how SAY was started and its purpose. Different stutterers are featured sharing their story throughout the movie. It even goes into detail about how parents and friends can help loved ones who stutter.

The movie itself is very well made—it features a wide variety of filming styles such as interviews, voiceovers, home videos, etc. Each scene blends well into the next and the story is sequential.

The stories told by each person are moving. Not only are viewers educated on the facts pertaining to stuttering, but also about the hardships these individuals face from those around them. My Beautiful Stutter is full of encouragement and affirmation—from the parents, from quotes and posters, and from the stutterers themselves. Viewers are shown the genuine journey that these people went on to find love for themselves and their stutter.

Integrity is a key theme in this film—not only do stutterers learn to love themselves, but they also stand up for those around them. My Beautiful Stutter does a fantastic job of showing how positivity and encouragement can impact people who have this disability. This eye-opening documentary is one that can help educate the public on the difficulties associated with stuttering and it can also encourage stutterers to seek support and recognize the fact that their stuttering isn’t a condition that holds them back, but a condition that empowers them.

My Beautiful Stutter includes several cuss words that aren’t appropriate for young children, but this film’s values earn it Dove-approval for ages 12+.

The Dove Take:

My Beautiful Stutter is a documentary that tells the story of a camp for those who stutter.