Gleason is based on the touching true story of New Orleans Saints star defensive, Steve Gleason.
At the young age of 34, the New Orleans football star Gleason was diagnosed with the incurable disease ALS, which left him struggling to control his body and his muscles. During the time of discovering the terrible news, his wife Michel was also pregnant with their first child.
But the discovery of his illness didn’t slow Steve down, it made him even more determined to live his remaining years to its fullest. He takes his ideas into action, going on an expedition to Alaska, creating a foundation to help other ALS patients, repairs a rocky relationship with his father and embraces new technologies to help compensate for his deteriorating physical abilities — all with Michel’s unwavering support. This story is naturally very sad, I think I cried non-stop for about an hour, but as Steve says, it’s not all sad, he saw his future with ALS as more full than his life before it. His determination to have the best relationship possible with his son is so touching, the film is made up of a lot of video blogs he has made for his son when he was still able to talk.
Although this film will make you feel very emotional, you will feel uplifted by moments of pure joy and the love that Steve has for his family and what he goes through to still be here with them. His wife is incredible, what an amazing woman, she just does so much for him and cares for their new baby while she is coming to terms with watching her once strong, fun and loving husband lose his ability to lead a normal life. Take many tissues for you and your neighbour, but do see this life-affirming film and support #teamgleason all the way!
Watch trailer…
Gleason is out in UK cinemas on 17th March 2017.