When I Walk is a personal feature documentary by filmmaker Jason DaSilva, chronicling the deterioration of his body -- but not his spirit -- as a young man affected by multiple sclerosis. Six years in the making, and fresh from its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the film is ready to hit the big screen, and they've launched a Kickstarter campaign to help make that happen. First, watch this trailer:
And here's some more information about the film:
It all started on a family vacation. In 2006, the 25-year-old, vital, handsome, talented Jason DaSilva was on a beach with his family when, suddenly, he fell down and couldn’t get back up. Doctors told him he had multiple sclerosis, and it could lead to loss of vision and muscle control, as well as a myriad of other problems. Jason decided to exercise more, but the problem just got worse. So he turned to his mom. She reminded him that he was a fortunate, privileged North American kid who had the opportunity to pursue the things he loved most—art and filmmaking. So Jason picked up the camera, turned it on himself, and began filming the slow, difficult decline of his body and the miracles he encountered along the way.Do you want to see this movie on the big screen? I do. The goal is to raise $27,000 by April 3. Funds will go towards marketing, advertising, press and promotional material, as well as printing and duplication costs of the film and trailer. For further information, and to make a pledge, head over to Kickstarter. And learn more about Jason and the film at the When I Walk website.
An emotional and inspirational documentary that is a pleasure to watch, When I Walk is an energizing and self-generating film experience whose creative engine is its young filmmaker’s determination to live and his ability to make sense of being plagued by a devastating disease through the art of cinematic storytelling.
When I Walk provides an emotional narrative of the experience of becoming disabled, and reframes the disability identity. "Nothing about us without us", we begin authoring and weaving stories told from our perspective. When I Walk provides fodder for discussion, inspiration, and new identity to those affected by multiple sclerosis and those with disabilities. Most important, my hope is that When I Walkwill create a new framework for seeing disability and disease as different states of being – rather than impoverished and lesser states of being. It speaks to universal experiences of aging, loss, and identity.