Triumphing through Pain and Loss with “96 Pounds of Dynamite”

Director and producer Loren Goldfarb’s documentary follows Chad “Shorty” McDaniel, a 52-year-old man born with “osteogenesis imperfecta” (OI), or perhaps colloquially known as brittle bone disease. As a result of his condition, his arms and legs are malformed, rendering him permanently set in a wheelchair. Despite this, Chad still continues to live his life to the fullest extent. At age 11, he learns how to play pool and discovers that he has a natural affinity for the game, understanding the game on a level that many experienced players took years to learn. He becomes so good that he beat 6 opponents in a Florida regional tournament and received an invite to one of the country’s top amateur pool tournaments in Las Vegas.

You might have some semblance of how much more difficult life may be for those with disabilities. However, what a lot of people don’t understand is that people with brittle bone disease are born with the condition, with their bones having much lower mineral density. Children with OI also can experience up to 0.84 to 0.98 fractures a year, as opposed to 0.3 fractures for children without OI. This makes it very difficult for children with OI to socialize and play with others. But OI challenges don’t stop at childhood, for as many as 50% of people with OI can experience hearing loss or discolored (blue or gray) sclera. Chad’s mother reveals that Chad was accidentally stepped on multiple times as a child by his relatives, which caused him to experience fractures. And Chad himself admits that as an adult, his hearing is slightly compromised. Worse of all, those dealing with severe OI can even face a shorter life expectancy, with Chad himself stating he may have only eight more years left in him.

This movie (and Chad’s story) could’ve very well been used as “inspiration porn.” What is “inspiration porn,” you may ask? The term was coined by disabled rights activist Stella Young in 2012, when she denounced the media’s usage of pictures showing disabled people doing regular activities. And Hollywood loves using disabled people to fuel their inspiration craze, often using a disabled person’s story to improve an able-bodied or -minded person’s character arc. This trope is still used today, with recent films such as the distasteful 2025 film The Unbreakable Boy or, more notoriously, the extremely ableist 2018 film, Music. But 96 Pounds of Dynamite doesn’t frame Chad McDaniel as a “survivor” of his OI, nor does it use his story to push others down. It gives an honest look into the life of someone born with OI and highlights not just how he manages and lives with it, but also the very real challenges that come with the disability. He even explicitly states that no human should go through what he went through and goes through.

These challenges are also prevalent in his childhood. He delves into his school life, specifically the difficulties in the education system. Back in the 1970s, schools didn’t have the same resources or acceptance for disabled children schools have today. Only 1 in 5 disabled children were placed in public schools, with many state laws prohibiting them from entering entirely. This forced many disabled children into homeschooling. Chad goes into detail explaining how he was originally homeschooled in his small Mississippi town, borrowing textbooks from the school, which soon proved to be too easy for him. When he managed to finally enroll in public school, he was told that he wasn’t allowed to bring his wheelchair because it might “cause harm to other children.” After a state hearing, Chad was allowed to use his wheelchair in public school.

Chad uses his razor-sharp wit and humor to make light of the challenges he went through, from people staring at him for inappropriately long periods of time (like putting a rude kid in his place by threatening to “turn him into a frog”) to his dating struggles. He talks about how difficult it was for him to meet and date girls, joking that he wanted a “six-foot, leggy blonde.” Quite frankly, I think he has good taste, and I’m glad he has a high standard for himself. Instead of becoming bitter and angry at the world for his disability, Chad decided to accept it for what it is and live as happily as he could, saying that “if he was going to be single, then he was going to be happy.” When Chad met Allison, the two clicked over their shared struggles with OI. Allison felt seen and safe for the first time, and the two married shortly after. They continue to live happily together with their dog today.

Despite all of his life’s struggles, you can tell just how much Chad loves life throughout the documentary. One of my favorite quotes from him is “You can approach a disability with either your hand out or a fist out.” And it’s true. So many people are angry and disillusioned with life over circumstances they cannot control. This anger only flares up when those around them demean them. Now, I’m obviously not promoting ableism by any means, but you will come across ableist or completely unpleasant people throughout your entire life who want nothing more than to make your own existence painful. If you can wear your own disability or flaws as armor, then no one can use it against you. We see Chad do just that, proudly calling himself the “M” word when you might think he would be offended by it. Even if you don’t have OI, this example is an imperative lesson that many people should learn in order to live a happier life.

When I saw the title for the film, I asked myself, “Why was the movie titled 96 Pounds of Dynamite?” Now I know why, because Chad “Shorty” McDaniel is exactly that: fiery, explosive, and above all else, passionate. His life’s story is carved from pain, loss, grit, and determination. Loren Goldfarb perfectly captures the emotional essence and struggle that people with OI face on a daily basis. And for those not suffering OI but are going through their own unique struggles, Chad’s story teaches us that no matter what obstacles life throws your way, you must always adapt and overcome. No one will always be there to save you. You have to fight for that better life you deserve.