SuppliedGleason
Directed by Clay Tweel
Starring Steve Gleason
Metro Cinema
Opening September 30th (also playing October 2nd, 4th, 8th)
Tickets are available here
Devastatingly emotional, inspirationally wonderful, and often hilarious — Gleason is an incredibly human documentary. It’s also one of the best in recent memory, and possibly the best of the year.
From its opening scene, be prepared to brace your poor, vulnerable hearts as Steve Gleason, who has been diagnosed with ALS, creates a video diary for his expectant child. As the scene plays, the audience begins to understand what he is already painfully aware of — he may never be able to have a true, physical conversation with his son. Not only does this give a glimpse into Gleason’s condition, but also the powerful emotions the rest of the film will contain.
ALS (or Lou Gehrig’s disease), is a rapidly progressive, and often fatal neurological disease that permits the brain from controlling the muscles that allow us to walk, talk, and breathe. It’s what Stephen Hawking has, and it’s what thousands of people dumped buckets of ice on their heads for back in 2014. Seeing the disease slowly eat away at Gleason up close and personal however, is possibly the best way to bring awareness to the condition.
The former New Orleans Saint’s football player is best remembered for a punt block in his team’s returning home game following Hurricane Katrina. He’s regarded as a true hero for the play, but his heroism extends far beyond the playing field. After his diagnosis, Steve says, “It’s not going to crush my life, even if it does crush my body.” And crush his life it cannot. He rages against the disease, finding faith, and fulfillment in his life, rather than immediately looking at treatment options. He keeps his heart, humour, and hope very much alive throughout.
Gleason travels to Alaska with his wife Michel, and soon after, the two start to prepare for the birth of their son. In one of the many emotionally gripping scenes, Steve, who can barely eat by himself anymore, somehow holds his baby in his arms — with only a bit of help from the doctor. The expression on his face is incomprehensibly blissful, and shows that however we may be restricted in our abilities, the power of love can be there to help us overcome them.
Though the movie explores themes of the human condition and how we struggle with pain and hopelessness, it is Steve’s relationship with his son, Rivers, that ultimately drives the movie and develops it’s most important theme: family. Steve struggles not only with the pain of his immobility, but the pain of having Michel take care of himself and his child. She’s worn and frustrated, and it reflects on Steve. One of the saddest scenes is him telling his son that it’s getting too tough, that his medication isn’t helping him, and that he wishes he could punch something — but all he can do is scream, and even that’s nearly impossible. Although the diaries are intended as a way to help and nurture Rivers, by talking to his son through the videos, Gleason can cope as well. No matter how tough it gets — and it gets shockingly tough — Steve will always have his family, and it allows him to make his wheelchair-bound, care-extensive life worth living.
Put together by writer and director Clay Tweel, Gleason is an expertly crafted documentary. Steve Gleason’s tragedy explores the depth of human emotions remarkably, and we can all find something to relate to in his struggle. Warning: avoiding becoming a sobbing mess while watching is nearly an impossible task.
Gleason opens at the Metro Cinema this weekend.
