Indestructible

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Indestructible

2007

1h 58m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

In 2002, Chicago native Ben Byer learned he had Lou Gehrig's disease. To cope with the debilitating illness that was slowly beginning to destroy his muscle control, Byer turned to filmmaking, shooting video diaries chronicling his descent into illness and later his quest to find a cure. As he travels across the globe to China, Greece and Israel to talk to fellow sufferers from the disease, and to seek experimental treatments, Byer's reportage brings him peace of mind in the face of death.

Eddie Cockrell

Variety

An intimate, lacerating, absorbing visual diary of the three-year onset of terminal disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in aspiring filmmaker Ben Byer.

Oct 18, 2008

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Maureen M. Hart

Chicago Tribune

Byer, despite the lousy hand fate dealt him, wasn't much about gloom.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 17, 2008

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Tim Cogshell

Boxoffice Magazine

The result is something that is, though not necessarily unique in the annals of documentary history, as engaging as any such story can be, particularly when isolated and presented as sincerely as it is here.

Rated: 4/5

May 30, 2008

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Even when our body betrays us, Ben Byer may very well prove that the heart and soul remain indestructible.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 12, 2020

Full Review

Stan Hall

Oregonian

This documentary by playwright Ben Byer, who succumbed in July at after living six years with ALS, isn't about dying as much as finding purpose in an impossible challenge and giving comfort to fellow sufferers.

Jan 5, 2009

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Beverly Berning

culturevulture.net

... a stirring narrative, a movie of epic dramatic force that holds its own with the best of any major work of cinema.

Jun 1, 2008

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Audience Member

An absolutely brilliant film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

It was a little difficult to watch, but a man's journey that's sure to challenge us.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

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Audience Member

Saw this at the Oxford International Film Festival screening, with star/director present. A powerfully emotional and inspiring vision.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Ben Byer

Director

Josh Byer

Actor

Oliver Sacks

Actor

Ben Byer

Actor

John Byer

Actor

Rebeccah Rush

Actor

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Synopsis

In 2002, Chicago native Ben Byer learned he had Lou Gehrig's disease. To cope with the debilitating illness that was slowly beginning to destroy his muscle control, Byer turned to filmmaking, shooting video diaries chronicling his descent into illness and later his quest to find a cure. As he travels across the globe to China, Greece and Israel to talk to fellow sufferers from the disease, and to seek experimental treatments, Byer's reportage brings him peace of mind in the face of death.

Director: Ben Byer
Producer: Ben Byer, Rebeccah Rush
Screenwriter: Ben Byer
Production Co: ALS Film Fund
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 18, 2016
Runtime: 1h 58m

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