The Upside focuses largely on the able-bodied characters as saviors. While the characters grow together, both deal with discrimination and stereotypes. Dell references Philip’s white and economic privilege throughout the film and assumes he’s being racially profiled. The first meeting with Philip’s assistant involves her saying she doesn’t like Dell being hired because
“As powerful as Mr. LaCase is, he’s a vulnerable man. So does it scare me to think of him in the wrong hands? Yes, it does.”
Phillip’s assistant shows saviour syndrome. A condition where you sacrifice for others for your self-esteem. Yvonne an abled woman won’t leave Phillip until she finds him her version of a good caregiver.
Dell is not seen as less capable for the role because of race but because Philip is fragile and needs a suitable caretaker. Philip needs more than physical help; he needs an attitude adjustment, and Dell does that better than any candidate because he doesn’t walk on eggshells in response to Philip’s disability. Dell holds Philip accountable for his actions.
Photo from Tuyen Vo from Unsplash
Dell is held back by his past as an ex-con who was “welcomed home” by his father when he arrived in jail. Dell is fighting to change that future for his son. When a resident brings up Dell’s past, and Philip says it doesn’t matter, the resident responds
“Philip, I get second chances, but how many chances has this man had? He’s done real-time, and you have him working in a building we all work in.”
Philip says, “which is my right.” The resident’s emphasis on “We all gotta live here.” is an issue of profiling.
It is unclear if it is influenced by race or by Dell’s record.
Dell learns to take care of other people and show compassion; and Philip finds love with his assistant, who doesn’t see a disability. Through the course of the film Dell learns how to take care of Philip and becomes a savior;
Philip is stereotyped as a burden and self-pitying. He’s not the ideal disabled person, but the type that needs to be “cured” of a bad attitude.