BEING HEUMANN

Directors: Sian Heder
Starring: Ruth Madeley, Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien, Daniel Durant, Charlie Rush-Reese, Rob Delaney, Ray Fisher, Will Brill, Roberta Colindrez

Sian Heder is the Oscar-winning writer and director of CODA. She’s back with Being Heumann, which is a look at disability rights activist Judy Heumann. Ruth Madeley makes Judy Heumann a spitfire and strong personality from the moment we meet her. It’s 1972 and she’s charging through the busy streets of New York begging people to sign petitions hoping to pass Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This would provide better access for people with disabilities. It passes, but five years later we learn that implementation has stalled at the hands of Joseph Califano, the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Mark Ruffalo plays Califano who doesn’t want to put in the time, money or effect at implementing the accessibility needs for Section 504. Judy is furious and forms a coalition of people who are disabled in various ways. She is described as a “radical crip” but will stop at nothing for her cause. She and group of protestors form a sit-in that lasts for 26 days in San Francisco. Dylan O’Brien plays a journalist who believes in the mission and documents the work they are doing. Now on AppleTV

Here’s my review