Life After

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2:23

Life After

Released Jul 18

1h 39m

Documentary

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100%

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26 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

In 1983, a disabled Californian woman named Elizabeth Bouvia sought the "right to die," igniting a national debate about autonomy, dignity, and the value of disabled lives. After years of courtroom trials, Bouvia disappeared from public view. Disabled director Reid Davenport narrates this investigation of what happened to Bouvia and her story's relevance today. LIFE AFTER coalesces the missing voices of the disability community in the contemporary debate about assisted dying. Davenport looks at the ways that disabled people have and continue to die prematurely--whether murdered by a hospital in the case of Michael Hickson in Texas, or with the support of parents and community in the case of Wisconsin teen Jerika Bolen. Davenport's exploration brings him to Canada, where safeguards have been lifted to allow disabled people unprecedented access to Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), even if their deaths are not reasonably foreseeable. In Ontario, Davenport interviews disabled computer programmer Michal Kaliszan, who contemplated MAID when his only alternative was entering an institution. In a society where ableism and poor healthcare can limit options, the autonomy of a disabled individual is often compromised. LIFE AFTER demonstrates how assisted dying may not represent choice when oftentimes it is seen as the only option.

Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

A powerful movie that examines the political and social structures that surround and control people with disabilities, and comes to a conclusion that will spark many arguments.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 18, 2025

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

New York Times

Life After doesn’t equivocate; neither does it offer easy answers. It tackles a thorny topic in a challenging way, with the tenderness, complexity and — notwithstanding Davenport’s earlier wish — the personal perspective it deserves.

Jul 17, 2025

Full Review

Lauren Wissot

Slant Magazine

The film may be most powerful for how Reid Davenport subtly connects the experience of the disabled community with that of marginalized diaspora groups at large.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 13, 2025

Full Review

Joseph Neff

Spectrum Culture

With Life After, Davenport has built a film with a clear point of view, but the presentation won’t lead everyone to the same conclusion. This lack of didacticism helps in the film’s ultimate success.

Jul 21, 2025

Full Review

Alise Chaffins

Movies We Texted About

[Life After]...highlights some of the problems that can arise when there is a campaign asking disabled people if they’d prefer to kill themselves without providing the help they need to live the life they want.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 19, 2025

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Simon Foster

Screen-Space

A bracing, immediate testament to Elizabeth ’s legacy and the social and moral complexities it has forged.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jul 18, 2025

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Stephen C

Real footage in 1 hour and 39 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

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Reid Davenport

Director

Colleen Cassingham

Producer

Dawn Bonder

Executive Producer

Daniel J. Chalfen

Executive Producer

James Costa

Executive Producer

Jess Devaney

Executive Producer

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Life After: Trailer 1

2:23

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Synopsis

In 1983, a disabled Californian woman named Elizabeth Bouvia sought the "right to die," igniting a national debate about autonomy, dignity, and the value of disabled lives. After years of courtroom trials, Bouvia disappeared from public view. Disabled director Reid Davenport narrates this investigation of what happened to Bouvia and her story's relevance today. LIFE AFTER coalesces the missing voices of the disability community in the contemporary debate about assisted dying. Davenport looks at the ways that disabled people have and continue to die prematurely--whether murdered by a hospital in the case of Michael Hickson in Texas, or with the support of parents and community in the case of Wisconsin teen Jerika Bolen. Davenport's exploration brings him to Canada, where safeguards have been lifted to allow disabled people unprecedented access to Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), even if their deaths are not reasonably foreseeable. In Ontario, Davenport interviews disabled computer programmer Michal Kaliszan, who contemplated MAID when his only alternative was entering an institution. In a society where ableism and poor healthcare can limit options, the autonomy of a disabled individual is often compromised. LIFE AFTER demonstrates how assisted dying may not represent choice when oftentimes it is seen as the only option.

Director: Reid Davenport
Producer: Colleen Cassingham
Distributor: Multitude Films / Independent Lens
Production Co: Multitude Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 39m