The most anticipated biopic of the year has finally landed at select cinemas and on Apple TV. Being Heumann is based on the true story of disability rights activist Judith “Judy” Heumann. Starring British actor Ruth Madeley and directed by Academy Award winner Siân Heder (CODA), the film is a revolutionary, irreverent and deeply human story of the least likely people trying to pull off the impossible and change the lives of millions.
Our editor, Emma Purcell, got the opportunity to have an early preview of the film. Here, she reflects on Ruth Madeley’s powerful portrayal of Judy Heumann, the historic fight for disability rights in America, and why the film remains an important reminder of how much progress has been made – and how much further society still needs to go.
As soon as I heard a biopic of Judy Heumann was being commissioned, and Ruth Madeley would portray her, I was excited but also slightly sceptical, mostly because I wondered why a British actor was cast to play an American activist. We are so used to Ruth’s distinctive Mancunian accent that I was curious to hear how she would depict Judy’s Brooklyn twang, but thankfully, I was very impressed.
Ruth Madeley – who is best known for playing roles including Dr Gabrielle Fox in The Rapture, Rosie Lyons in Years and Years, and Barbara Lisicki in the UK disability rights drama Then Barbara Met Alan – secured the role of Judy Heumann after she was recommended by a deck designer to Being Heumann director Siân Heder.
Judy Heumann contracted polio at 18 months old and used a wheelchair most of her life. She was known as the “Mother of the Disability Rights Movement” and died in 2023 at the age of 75. I’ve been aware of her work for many years through reading articles about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), listening to interviews with Judy and watching the Netflix documentary Crip Camp.
Being Heumann is a film adaptation of Judy’s autobiography of the same name. Set in 1977, Judy Heumann and organiser Kitty Cone lead a 26-day sit-in at San Francisco’s federal building. They demand enforcement of Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits disability discrimination by federally funded programmes. Their campaign pressures HEW Secretary Joseph Califano, played by Mark Ruffalo, to sign the long-delayed regulations at last.
Read: Ruth Madeley: BAFTA-Nominated Actor Creating Greater Disability Representation In The Media
Being Heumann film review: bringing the disability rights movement to life
The film actually begins five years earlier in 1972, and the opening scene immediately illustrates Judy’s determination and fighting spirit for change. The opening shot is from her point of view in the wheelchair, lower down with only the view of people’s feet and the uneven pavement, which is a great way to showcase the way people in wheelchairs see the world every day. It continues to follow her moving through the streets in her wheelchair and facing the obstacle of a curb, which she can’t access and instead has to navigate her wheelchair in the middle of the road, avoiding taxis and buses.
As a viewer who is also a wheelchair user, I can definitely relate to all these challenges and found it amusing when Judy showed the middle finger to a bus driver who was beeping at her to get out of the way. This simple gesture immediately says, “Fuck you! Make the streets accessible, and I won’t be on your roads”.
Throughout the film, it was interesting to watch all the events that took place during the 26-day protest, including their rebellious ways to access toilet and shower facilities, improvised sleeping arrangements, and the iconic sex tent. It was amazing to see the lengths the protesters went to fight for the cause, even refusing to leave when there was a bomb threat in the building.
Although I am aware the story is set in the 1970s, so much of the disability terminology is dated. However, I do remember hearing words like “handicap” in modern-day films and TV shows in America, and I do question whether American disabled citizens still accept these terms or whether more needs to be done to change the way disabled people are described.
I also didn’t feel comfortable hearing care support staff being referred to as “attendants”, even by the audio describer of the film (which I used to follow the film as I’m registered blind). Again, this may be a term used by Americans today, but personally I would’ve preferred them to be described as personal assistants or carers.
There were also some very powerful emotional moments throughout the film. This included testimonies from Judy and other protesters about their experiences of struggling to access education and employment. While listening to these experiences, it made me think that even with equality laws in the 21st century, many of us still face these kind of prejudice and discrimination when it comes to accessing schools and workplaces. So it does raise the question, “Has the quality of life for disabled people really changed?”.
With the conclusion of the film, as I already had a brief understanding of the history of the ADA, I was already aware of how the story would end with Joseph Califano finally signing off Section 504. However, what surprised me was how emotional I felt when it was finally passed. I actually got quite tearful watching the celebrations of the protesters. And yet, I also felt that there would still be a long way to go for them in terms of acting on making all places accessible and looking ahead of how things are today, and how much else we still need to do for full disability inclusion in society.
Watch the Being Heumann trailer
Read: DDA At 30: What The Disability Discrimination Act Gave Us And How To Use It
Why films about disability rights need wider audiences
I find that when it comes to TV shows and films featuring characters with disabilities or storylines focusing on disability rights and inclusion, I get the feeling that only those who live with a disability or are true allies of the disability community tend to watch these programmes and films. They are already going to empathise with the characters and have a good understanding of disability rights.
Of course, for many younger generations, this story is a good education for disabled people to understand what older generations had to go through to get their rights met, which led to the rights they now have today.
But I strongly hope many more non-disabled people watch this film to simply educate themselves on what life is really like for people living with a disability, understanding the history of the disability rights movement in America and maybe teach themselves on how they can become allies of the disability community in the future. Also, I hope they will learn from this film that disabled people have a great sense of humour and can be very entertaining, as well as determined and motivated.
Being Heumann is available to watch in select cinemas and on Apple TV.