Revenge of the Electric Cart

Rikki Stinnette

A girl whose mother has rheumatoid arthritis uses humor to overcome prejudice at a grocery store.

Why we chose this film.

This film captures the loneliness of navigating a chronic illness while showcasing a joyful connection between a mother and daughter. We hope the film inspires conversations about the power of creativity and humor to bring people together.

Filmmaker

Inspiration

My mom was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when I was 6 years old, and this short is heavily based on our experience. I’ll always remember the glares and questions we’d get at the grocery store when my mom, who “looked” healthy, had to use the electric cart because her knees hurt too much to walk long distances. One day, I decided to lean into the fact that people were looking at us anyway to pull a harmless prank!
As an adult, I made “Revenge of the Electric Cart” so people like me and like my mom could be seen. A lot of people don’t understand how debilitating RA can be, especially since it is an “invisible” illness where people experience good days and bad days. One of the most rewarding parts of sharing this short with others has been hearing the stories of people who experienced something similar and felt seen–or less lonely–after watching this story. I hope this film shines light on an experience you may or may not be familiar with and that it brings you joy!

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