Two months after he won the Super Bowl, doctors diagnosed him with ALS. Weeks later, he found out he would be a father. His video diary for his unborn son turned into one of the most emotional documentaries I’ve ever watched.
Trailer for “Gleason”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Steve Gleason was told he had only 2 to 5 years to live after his ALS diagnosis in 2011. The doc shows his journey over five years as he battles the disease and raises his son.
- Steve recorded hundreds of hours of video messages for his unborn son, Rivers. Those private home recordings became the backbone of the documentary.
- Gleason became a legend in New Orleans for blocking a punt. This happened during the Saints’ first home game after Hurricane Katrina against the Atlanta Falcons. The man who became a symbol of the city’s recovery suddenly faced the fight of his own life.
Watch “Gleason”
You can find the latest streaming options for “Gleason” on JustWatch.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 95/100
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 90/100 (Users); 96/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Clay Tweel directed this 111-minute documentary. He directed “Finders Keepers,” “Print the Legend,” and some episodes of the Netflix series “Heist.” Tweel skips the usual sports biography. Instead, he focuses on personal footage that Steve and Michel recorded at home.
Release Date: 2016
Other Unique Stuff
- Steve’s hand control declined, making recording hard. As the disease gets worse, he changes how he creates messages.
- Team Gleason is strongly connected to efforts that increase access to speech-generating devices. This helps people with ALS and other conditions that affect their ability to speak.
- Rivers grows from an unborn baby into a young child during filming. That passage of time makes Steve’s physical decline even harder to watch.
Wrap Up:
“Gleason” is one of the most honest documentaries I’ve seen about family, disability, marriage, and what it takes to stay present when your body is failing. You do not need to care about football for this one to hit hard.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc