'Indestructible': Ben Byer's fighting spirit survives
Rating: 3 1/2 stars (good-excellent)
By Maureen M. Hart | Tribune reporter




The July 3 death of filmmaker Ben Byer, creator and subject of "Indestructible," lends this documentary record of his struggle against ALS an unbearable poignancy. Despite his debilitation, Byer planned to attend the three screenings at the Gene Siskel Film Center starting tonight, accompanied by his sister, producer Rebeccah Rush, and the film's editor, Tim Baron.

The latter two will be on hand for the local debut of the film, started nine months after Byers' 2002 diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's disease in 2002, at age 31. A Chicago actor and playwright, Byer, with the help of childhood friend Roko Belic ("Genghis Khan"), captured three years in his fight against the fatal neurodegenerative disease. Joined in the battle with him are his parents, sister, brother, others with ALS, and conventional and alternative health-care practitioners. He travels to six countries in search of relief and hope, including China, for a risky experimental surgery, and to Israel, in an attempt to reconnect with the Judaism of his youth. Experts in all disciplines are sympathetic but still confounded by the disease, though neurologist Oliver Sacks (author of the book "Awakenings") seems to make a particular connection with Byer when he inquires about what his life is like when the cameras aren't running (Byer, whose outlook appears remarkably resilient, shares his sense of loss.)

One small nitpick: In a few scenes, the music—particularly in a pitched family fight over their father's outreach into the greater ALS community—overwhelms the dialogue. The Byers have bravely opened themselves up to criticism by acting all too human in the face of a death sentence handed down to a family member, particularly a father, whose son, John, is 3 when the film begins. John's delight in his father, no matter his condition, helps to counter the gloom.

But Byer, despite the lousy hand fate dealt him, wasn't much about gloom. Late in the film, a young(er), healthy Ben appears in archival footage, revved up with enthusiasm about filmmaking and life. That same spirit flashes as he closes his film: "I wish I was a good enough artist to make this movie without having the disease. Now that would be talent."



mhart@tribune.com



No MPAA rating; parents cautioned for language, nudity.

Running time: 1:53.

Playing: 8 p.m. July 18, 7:45 p.m. July 21, 8:30 p.m. July 22, Gene Siskel Film Center.

Written and directed by: Ben Byer; photographed by Roko Belic; edited by Tim Baron; music by Alison Chesley; produced by Rebeccah Rush, Byer. An ALS Film Fund release.

Indestructible
By Megan Lehar • December 26, 2008

Indestructible

Directed by: Ben Byer
Starring: Ben Byer, John Byer, Steve Byer, Oliver Sacks M.D.
Time: 1 hr 50 min
Rating: not rated
Opening: Dec. 27 in Portland at the Hollywood Theatre

Plot: Filmmaker Ben Byer is diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s, a degenerative, fatal disease, and decides to document his life. In the process we witness his and his families’ attempts to fight the disease and prolong his life.

Who’s it for? Adults or mature teens, it can be emotionally intense. Anyone wanting to learn about the human face of ALS. People who don’t mind watching live surgery.

Expectations: I’ve read some about ALS so I knew it wouldn’t end well. I really like most documentaries though so I hoped to enjoy it.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Cast:
Ben Byer: The director and main protagonist of the film. Or maybe he’s the antagonist, as he spends the film trying to stop the spread of ALS. Over the course of the film, we meet his son, father, mother, sister, and brother and watch their individual reactions to his loss of speech and coordination. He knows the disease will kill him, but still hopes to find a cure or way to slow it down. Ben loses weight, facial muscles, and the ability to walk unaided gradually over the course of the film. Watching him come to terms with his disease and realize that he can fight it but not beat it leaves a greater impression. How can you rate the performance of a man who opens his life to the public, who degenerates on camera? Maybe it’s not totally objective, but I have to give him a 10.
Score: 10

John Byer: Ben’s son John grows from the age of three to about six (no ages are given after the beginning of the film but it takes place over the course of three years) as Ben battles ALS. Over time, John’s speech improves and he grows bigger. It’s a natural process made unnaturally poignant by the simultaneous loss in his father’s ability to speak clearly and loss of motor skills. He’s a very natural presence on camera and though he does play it up sometimes in the way that children do (making faces and such) what he brings out in his father when he does is heartrending.
Score: 8

Steve Byer: Ben’s father follows his son to all the destinations he visits in pursuit of various treatments. He seems hugely invested in his son’s disease and his attempts to find someone, somewhere in the world who knows of a way to prolong his life or offer a cure. He’s also the most guarded of the family members we see on camera. Though he opens up to his son in some scenes, he does seem a little uncomfortable.
Score: 6

Talking: The Byer family are a fairly well spoken bunch, a plus in a movie that’s not scripted. However it can be difficult to understand what some of the people say, specifically those with ALS. The disease causes loss of motor function and one of the earliest signs can be slurred speech. Sometimes it’s difficult to understand Ben, especially in voiceover when his mouth is not visible.
Score: 6

Sights: Though a lot of the travel video looks very nice, some other video, especially family scenes and Ben’s video journal is done terribly. Often at times when I really want to see facial expressions, I can’t due to the person being shrouded in shadow with blinding light behind them. It’s kind of par for the course for a documentary but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Score: 4

Sounds: The classical music in the score works great, but the songs, not so much. There’s a Beth Orton song that doesn’t work at all, and I really like Beth Orton. When a movie is this dramatic, there’s no need to try and create schmaltzy montages.
Score: 6

OVERALL

Indestructible is not a perfectly made film, the production values aren’t always great. But it does have an incredibly compelling story to tell. Ben Byer starts making the film as a way to do something important, make a name for himself. By the end of the film he realizes that he has created his own elegy. I knew something about ALS having read the book His Brother’s Keeper by Jonathan Weiner which chronicles another family’s deconstruction after a member is diagnosed with ALS. I thought I had prepared myself, but reading about someone with a degenerative disease and watching the face and body of a man actually degenerate are different experiences. Ben and his family, especially his sister Rebeccah and brother Josh, are extremely natural in front of the camera. The experience creates a strong whole, based on the people far more than the filmmaking.

Score: 7/10


Categories: Film Reviews
Tags: Film Reviews

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