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Being Heumann: A Rousing Drama on Disability Rights
Confirmed
In Short: Apple Original Films' 'Being Heumann' is a lively biopic that recounts the 1977 occupation of a federal building by activists demanding the signing of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act.
In 1977, disabled activist Judy Heumann, along with a scrappy coalition of outsiders, decided they had had enough. They wouldn't take the government's phone calls, so they took their building. The film shows the 28-day occupation of San Francisco's federal building, where Heumann and her group demanded the signing of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and its Section 504, which banned discrimination against people with disabilities in government-funded institutions.
The film also explores the backstories of the activists, highlighting the importance of their collective voice in the fight against discrimination. It challenges the notion of disability as a personal tragedy and instead portrays it as a social justice issue. The film's blend of humor and serious themes makes it both entertaining and informative, reflecting the real-life struggles and triumphs of the disability rights movement.
What's confirmed
- In 1977, disabled activist Judy Heumann, along with a scrappy coalition of outsiders, decided they had had enough. They wouldn't take the government's phone calls, so they took their building. The film shows the 28-day occupation of San Francisco's federal building, where Heumann and her group demanded the signing of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and its Section 504, which banned discrimination against people with disabilities in government-funded institutions.
- The film also explores the backstories of the activists, highlighting the importance of their collective voice in the fight against discrimination. It challenges the notion of disability as a personal tragedy and instead portrays it as a social justice issue. The film's blend of humor and serious themes makes it both entertaining and informative, reflecting the real-life struggles and triumphs of the disability rights movement.
What's still developing
- In the case of Siân Heder, she’s managed to follow up CODA with Being Heumann, a similarly crowd pleasing and life affirming work that this time is telling a true story.
- What starts in that San Francisco office building eventually gets to Washington DC, with history eventually being made.
- Heder and Taussig are looking to entertain as well as inform, so there’s lots of laughs to be had, though never at the expense of the importance of the legislation.
- Being Heumann is a lively and rousing biopic, mixing a heavy dose of humor into a landmark moment in the quest for equal rights for all.
- At a time when rights are being threatened, seeing how ones were attained in the first place is deeply moving.
- It shows the intimacy and trust that goes into caregiving, it shows that disabled people are as sexual as anyone else, and it shows what it feels like being seen as invisible by society.
- While the title Being Heumann is a reference to disability rights activist Judy Heumann’s tireless efforts in legislating accessibility, the biopic is better viewed as an ensemble piece that captures the entire movement she championed.
- Meanwhile, as the onscreen Heumann learns to release some control of the movement and the ongoing sit-in, the film explores the backstories of some of this talented ensemble of disabled characters, each contributing to the film’s humorous and touching heartbeat.