Must Watch TV – "When I Walk" Airing Monday, June 23

Last year I wrote about a remarkable MS themed film called When I Walk that was making the rounds of local film festivals. In part funded through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, When I Walk proved to be a tremendous success, winning numerous awards and garnering impressive critical praise (click here and here). Though the documentary saw some nationwide and worldwide distribution, it was screened at only a relative handful of theaters, preventing it from being seen by the widespread viewership it so richly deserves. On Monday night, June 23, When I Walk will finally get its chance to reach the masses here in the United States, with a television debut on the PBS series "POV" (click here). In the New York City metropolitan area, the film will air at 10 PM, please check your local listings for air times in your area. When I Walk will also be available for viewing online from June 24, 2013 to July 23, 2014. (Update: seems that the film will be showing on different days in different cities. Please click on the "POV" link, above, to check when When I Walk will be shown in your local area. I've also learned that many Canadian locales also get PBS, so WK readers in Canada should check their local listings.)

When I Walk is the work of Jason DaSilva, a young filmmaker whose previous films have been featured at film festivals around the world. About nine years ago, at the age of 25, Jason was struck with progressive MS and decided to turn his camera on himself. His documentary When I Walk chronicles the first seven years of his struggle with PPMS in unflinching fashion, showing the effects of the disease warts and all even as it exposes the heart and soul of the man at the center of the storm. When the film opens, Jason is having some trouble walking; by its end he’s using a scooter full-time, his vision is increasingly affected, and the disease is attacking his hands to the extent that he needs help completing the movie. In between, we experience the physical and emotional roller coaster of MS as Jason searches for answers, possible cures, and even miracles. Though one might think this would make for gloomy subject matter, the film is an inspiring testament to Jason’s courage, the power of love, and the enduring nature of the human heart. Even as Jason’s body betrays him, he manages to find his soulmate, a woman special enough to love him despite all of the trepidation and uncertainties that come with MS.

Unlike the usual public face of MS, which typically features MSers climbing mountains or celebrities with MS "dancing with the stars", When I Walk gives us an unvarnished view of the realities of multiple sclerosis, a picture of the disease rarely seen by the public at large. For that alone the film deserves heaps of praise; the fact that When I Walk manages to inspire and illustrates the strength of the human spirit despite never shying away from the uncomfortable facts of life with progressive MS is testament to the artistry of the filmmaker, and makes the film "must watch" material for those both inside and outside of the MS community.

Here’s the When I Walk trailer:



It'd be terrific if Wheelchair Kamikaze readers left their impressions of the film in the comments section of this post…