Gleason (2016)

Review

110min

Genre:       Documentary

Director:    Clay Tweel

Cast:         Steve Gleason, Michel Varisco-Gleason, Rivers Gleason…more

Writer:      Clay Tweel

-Synopsis-

A candid chronicle of the life of former professional American Football player Steve Gleason after he’s diagnosed with ALS (motor neurone disease) at the age of 34; as he begins a video diary to capture his essence for his unborn son before the crippling disease robs him of the chance, while balancing his deteriorating condition with an increasingly strained family life and his transformation into a national symbol and hero—who improves the lives of those affected by this mysterious and devastating disease.

A result of Steve Gleason’s warts-and-all capturing of his ordeal, combined with documentary filmmaker Clay Tweel’s talents in putting it all together with his own footage of the family’s more recent struggles, ‘Gleason’ is a painfully sad yet paradoxically uplifting story of life and love, and what doing either properly really looks like. The film begins by briefly building a context and illuminating Gleason’s earlier formative years and his time in the public spotlight—as well as the relationship with his devoted wife and fellow free-spirit Michel Varisco-Gleason, with whom he found solace—before beginning a sobering journey of physical deterioration after his diagnosis, and yet a beautiful chapter with the imminent birth of their son Rivers.

A combination of interviews and mostly fly-on-the-wall footage, ‘Gleason’ is essentially a near two hour microcosm of the family’s daily life—between travelling and events for the ALS foundation which Steve founded—but mostly their time between his native Washington state and their home in New Orleans where he made his name as an NFL back for the New Orleans Saints, first becoming a hero on the field and now one off it for dealing with extreme adversity and helping others to do the same.

With unprecedented access to their personal life, the film captures the bravery of Steve in persisting with a life which many ALS sufferers give up on—understandably so as the disease completely entraps their mind and soul in a body which becomes a perpetual prison—but also the courage of Michel to endure it with him and give up her own life to care for Steve’s every need, while raising their child.

On many levels and as an instrument of both education and entertainment, ‘Gleason’ is a deeply poignant piece of filmmaking and a major catalyst for raw emotional responses, so be prepared to be moved, upset and delighted in equal measure . . . and sometimes at the same time, as heart-wrenching and uncomfortable moments are often broken up by delightfully brazen humour.

For most non-US audiences with no prior knowledge of Steve Gleason—and we suspect many Americans too—the film is made all the more tragic by watching a ferocious and irrepressible former athlete wither away as the disease consumes him—and yet despite the suffering and the struggles it never breaks his spirit or determination to stay present for his family and other sufferers of ALS, making this a paradox of a film which often makes you cry and smile at the same time . . . and for different reasons.

Indeed the film’s emotional duality is a perfect reflection of Steve himself, seemingly a ‘jock’ and definitely a star athlete, yet open-minded, enlightened and as far from a ‘meathead’ as a pro football player gets. And then during his public struggles with his condition as he becomes a venerated popular hero, while being stripped of his dignity in private by the ravages of his disease and what he has to go through, yet never losing his sense of self as he shares it all with the world—such is the sobering nature of life, and the strength of this film.

Above all else ‘Gleason’ is a story of family and in particular fathers & sons, with Steve not only creating a portrait of himself for a young son with whom he will never have a normal relationship, but also reflecting on his childhood and relationship with his own father —an ‘all-American’ yet dysfunctional upbringing which no doubt helped to form his own determined character . . . on and off the field.

As Gleason says himself, “this is what dads do, they pass the best of themselves to their kids”, and that’s what this film is. A highly personal and incredibly frank opening of a unique man’s soul to his child, and to the world—in the process revealing the remarkable character of himself and his wife Michel, while raising awareness of a devastating disease with painful yet life-affirming honesty. A more noble filmmaking endeavour you’ll be hard-pressed to find.

The Bottom Line…

A highly unconventional and heart-wrenching yet uplifting portrait of fatherhood, ‘Gleason’ is both an extraordinarily frank look at the effects of ALS and a deeply moving but honest snapshot of the lives of an extraordinary couple. This beautiful and painful juxtaposition of sadness and joy will make you run the gamut of emotions and leave you shattered but fulfilled, a perfect allegory for living life in the moment and appreciating what you have.

‘Gleason’ is out in cinemas on the 17th of March and on DVD and Digital Download on the 24th April

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

He Named Me Malala (2015)

Director Davis Guggenheim’s chronicle of the life–so far–of Nobel Prize-winning Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, from being shot by the Taliban for suggesting girls should be educated to moving to Britain and becoming a global ambassador for children’s education and gender equality.

Directed by Davis Guggenheim and starring Malala Yousafzai, Ziauddin Yousafzai and Toor Pekai Yousafzai among others.

Comments

comments

Comments are closed.