One of my favorite films of this year is opening at NYC’s Village East this week (running from 10/11 – 10/17), So Much So Fast by Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan, Academy award nominees for Troublesome Creek. I had the pleasure of meeting Steven at HotDocs where I saw the film. It was one of the few times when I had actually seen the movie before meeting the director, and I don’t remember what I said to him on a walk back to the hotel one evening, but I know I was embarrassing myself gushing about the film.

Stephen Heywood was diagnosed with ALS, a degenerative and incurable disease that acts quickly leaving its victims with only 3 – 5 years of physical functioning. The high cost financially and emotionally to care for ALS patients has left many to simply whither away and die rather than live on life support. So, Stephen’s diagnosis seems tantamount to a death sentence, but unlike most other families, the Heywoods don’t take that as a final answer.

I don’t want to go too much into the story of the film, as the drama is in how the family reacts to Stephen’s diagnosis. But rather than simply being a sad film about an incurable disease and its impact, So Much So Fast is about extraordinary people who take life’s lemons and somehow manage to make lemon meringue pie. The beauty of the story is captured by the filmmakers who deftly weave 5 years worth of material into a tapestry of love, family, and overcoming odds. It’s a quiet film but truly powerful. Go catch the film with Steven and Jeanne present at Wednesday and Friday’s screenings!