Sian Heder Makes ‘Invisible People Visible’ with Toronto Film on Disability Rights
The film uses disabled actors and recounts a 28-day sit-in that helped push Section 504 toward federal enforcement.
- On Thursday night, writer-director Sian Heder opened the 51st Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall with 'Being Heumann,' a drama about disability rights activist Judy Heumann.
- The film chronicles the 1977 San Francisco federal building sit-in, where Heumann led activists demanding the signing of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which banned discrimination in federally funded institutions.
- Heder cast disabled actors in lead roles, including Ruth Madeley as Heumann and Mark Ruffalo as Joseph Califano, the U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.
- Following the premiere, which featured live captioning and ASL interpretation, Heder discussed her casting choices, stating, 'All of her work was about how to make invisible people visible.'
- Set for a November 6 theatrical release followed by streaming on Apple TV, Heder noted that the 1970s fight for inclusion remains relevant as groups today battle discrimination.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Sian Heder makes ‘invisible people visible’ with Toronto film on disability rights
By Bhargav Acharya TORONTO, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Academy Award winner Sian Heder's feature film "Being Heumann" opened the Toronto festival with a heartfelt tale of how disabled people with an indomitable will, courage and commitment accomplished the i...
'Being Heumann' Review: Siân Heder Recounts Historic Disability Rights Protest
While the title of Being Heumann is a reference to disability rights activist Judy Heumann’s tireless efforts in legislating accessibility, the biopic is better viewed as an ensemble piece that captures the entire movement she championed. In writer/director Siân Heder’s followup to her 2021 Oscar winner Coda, she recounts the 28-day occupation of San Francisco’s […]
Sian Heder Says “Collective Action Matters” as ‘Being Heumann’ Opens Toronto Film Festival
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow declared her city’s waterfront “will always be Lake Ontario” during a gala opening night for TIFF overshadowed by Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada.
‘Being Huemann’ Review: Siân Heder’s First Film Since ‘CODA’ Is a Bold and Stirring Dramatization of the Protest That Launched the Disabled-Rights Revolution
In Siân Heder's first movie since "CODA," Ruth Madeley plays the disability-rights leader Judy Heumann like an officious Joan of Arc.
‘Being Heumann’ Review: Siân Heder’s ‘CODA’ Follow-Up Is an Essential Biopic That’s Not Afraid to Have Some Fun
When Siân Heder’s “CODA” premiered at Sundance in 2021 (during the festival’s online-only “pandemic year” and months and months before the film would go on to win Best Picture), it became an early favorite of mine. Mostly, I wrote in my review, though the “drama is marked by familiar beats, its characters bring new dimension to a staid genre.” The same can be said about Heder’s follow-up feature, “Being Heumann,” which brings real life back to t…
St Catharines Standard
TIFF opens with ‘Being Heumann’
"Being Heumann" is the opening-night film for TIFF this year, heralding the return of "CODA" writer-director Sian Heder. Ruth Madeley ("Years and Years") stars in the film, along with festival favourite Mark Ruffalo.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 88% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
