Being Heumann LFF review: Inspiring biographical drama
Nowadays, we are used to seeing dropped kerbs, slopes and spaces for wheelchair users on public transport. But that wasn’t always the case, and the world was far less accessible for disabled people than it is now.
Sian Heder, who previously made CODA about the deaf community, turns her attention to disability rights activists who fought to make the U.S. more accessible to – and inclusive of – disabled people in the 1970s. Leading the revolution is Judith Heumann (Ruth Madeley), who, along with more than 100 people, staged a sit-in at a San Francisco federal building to force U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Joseph Califano (Mark Ruffalo) to sign Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the first U.S. federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities.
Being Heumann is a powerful, moving biographical drama – adapted from Heumann’s own memoir – about the power of a group of people rising up to hold their government to account. Madeley, herself a wheelchair user, is fantastic as the determined, defiant and outraged Judith. She may not always be the nicest person, but she is a rousing speaker who can inspire others, has the dog-with-a-bone tenacity to keep pressing Califano and the fighting attitude they need to bring about meaningful change.
Ruffalo is the exasperated government official on the other side of the divide. He’s caught between a rock and a hard place – he’s getting daily calls from Heumann about Section 504 and wants to support their cause. But at the same time, he knows that he will be fired for signing it because it will cost the government millions to make everything accessible. Dylan O’Brien is a solid addition as news reporter Evan, and Madeline Delp offers contrast to Judy as the soft, kind and compassionate activist Kitty.
Being Heumann is a moving crowd-pleaser that makes you realise how far the world has come, but how far is left to go.
Now streaming on Apple TV+