by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Will anything grab your attention quicker than the story of a brave individual making a difference and confronting trauma? I remember the story of Gabby Giffords. This was back when I was in college and the fateful bullet went into the brain of Giffords, which changed her life forever. Gifford was the rising star of Arizona politics, as well on the national stage. But when a madman opened fire at a campaign event and shot Giffords in the end, his life and accomplishments lack the best praise she could find. Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down is one of the best documentaries out there and I feel bad for the ideas up to this point.
But what is the story that directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West craft in this new documentary? First off, this is structured like your standard documentary. We get interviews and archival footage (none of which are dynamic compared to other documentaries) to fill out the runtime. But what makes this film different is the deeply emotional connection Cohen and West develop over the course of the film with their audience. For the first half or so, it is about Giffords’ journey after being shot in the head. We see her developing her speech again, learning to use her limbs again, and learning to process the world around her. Eventually, the film gives way to Giffords’ passion now, which is fighting for gun control measures and trying to bring others together to make an actual difference. They also present a lot from Giffords’ husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, and his own political aspirations. But in the end, the most impactful elements center on the inspiring journey that Giffords goes on.
What does Won’t Back Down do well? Legitimate emotion is built around Giffords story. It is hard to get fact-based documentaries to deliver on such a level. But Cohen and West know what to show and don’t shy away from the deeply vulnerable moments that Giffords go through on her journey to recovery. I got choked up quite a few times. But when the narrative shifts to more of the political perspective, they still deliver an impact with all of the shootings and by putting those horrible figures up occasionally, as Giffords and Kelly have discussions with others about making the difference. But the real heart of the film is the beautiful relationship that Giffords and Kelly have. Their love is poignant and penetrates every frame they are in together. This is a truly moving love story and certainly works better than most narrative romances in film.
But where doesn’t the film succeed? At some points, it has a bit of an identity crisis. The heart of the film is Giffords, but there are moments it turns completely into a rousing push for gun safety laws. Taking out your perspective on the actual political issue, this film feels like it loses its biggest asset at certain points. It must confront the issue due to how important it is to Giffords, but it shouldn’t lose its focus on her. There are some similar feelings as well when it shifts focus to Kelly and his political career. But at least Giffords is consistently present, even when she might not feel like the focus at times. The biggest issue with the film is that there are some unsavory biases. This is from CNN Films, and they consistently push coverage from their own network. It just feels unsavory when the film is really supposed to be about a woman and her journey back to health after a tragedy (but it wouldn’t be the first time CNN tried to milk a tragedy).
Does this film do justice to Gabby Giffords? Won’t Back Down is full of heart and delivers one of the most inspiring tales that you will see all year. Giffords is an inspiration, and this is a must-see film for everyone. It even delivers a better love story than most romances. Give this documentary a chance, but be warned… it can certainly be hard to watch.
Score: 7/10
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