ABOUT THE FILM

LONG SYNOPSIS

Ady Barkan and his wife Rachael always said they were the luckiest people they knew. A rising star in political organizing and new father, Ady had his whole life in front of him. But four months after his son Carl is born, Ady is diagnosed with ALS, a deadly disease that will ultimately paralyze his entire body.

Despairing at the loss of decades of happiness with his family, Ady decides to return to his roots as an activist. Traveling to protest a bill that will cut into the healthcare programs he needs to survive, Ady chances to meet a powerful Senator on an airplane. The conversation is captured on video, goes viral, and catapults him into the public eye.

Capitalizing on the power of his new platform, Ady launches the Be A Hero campaign to fight for healthcare justice. With a diverse group of activists he barnstorms across the country in a wheelchair-accessible RV, building a people-powered movement. Along the way they educate and empower others to use the tactic of birddogging—confronting elected officials with emotional, personal stories intended to directly impact legislation.

As Ady’s natural voice fades, his influence grows, transforming him into one of the most powerful activists in America. But as he learns to wield his newfound power, he must also learn to adapt as a father and husband. As Ady nears the end of his life, he seeks to form a lasting bond with Carl, while also creating a better world for him to inherit.

Director Nicholas Bruckman

Writers Nicholas Bruckman, Amanda Roddy
Executive Producers for Duplass Brothers Productions Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Mel Eslyn
Executive Producer for Hungry Mule Entertainment Bradley Whitford
Executive Producers for Patma Productions Nina Tassler, Joan Boorstein
Executive Producer for Park Pictures Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Wendy Neu

Producer Amanda Roddy

Associate Producer Aster Gross

Director of Photography Ryder Haske, Alex Pollini, Erin Collett, Nicholas Bruckman, Amanda Roddy

Music Giosué Greco

Cast Ady Barkan, Rachael King, Liz Jaff, Tracey Corder, Nate Smith, Ana Maria Archila

FESTIVALS
2021: SXSW (World Premiere)

AWARDS
Audience Award Winner—Documentary Feature (SXSW); Special Jury Recognition—Humanity in Social Action, Documentary Feature (SXSW)

AVAILABLE TERRITORIES
The World

EXHIBITION FORMATS
DCP, Digital Download