FOR LOVE & LIFE: NO ORDINARY CAMPAIGN – Review

FOR LOVE & LIFE: NO ORDINARY CAMPAIGN is a moving documentary about one couple’s fight for legislative changes that could offer hope and life to anyone battling ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This fine documentary follows Brian Wallach and his wife Sandra, in the aftermath of his ALS diagnosis, as they fight both the disease and the barriers to treatment that all those with ALS face, a battle they fight with courage, energy, creativity and hope.

Remember the “ice bucket challenge?” Yeah, they are the ones who created that.

At age 37, Brian Wallach was on top of the world, with the rosiest future, awaiting the birth of his second child with his wife Sandra. The couple had met while working on a progressive political campaign, and they seemed to be the perfect match. With a new job inside government, Brian’s future was bright and the world was his oyster. Until it wasn’t.

What changed everything was Brian’s diagnosis with ALS. Even more devastating was the short time he was given to live – mere months. As one of the many doctors featured in the film noted, ALS is not as uncommon as people think and it progresses quickly. And it’s prognosis is not just dim – it is 100% fatal.

But Brian and Sandra were no ordinary couple, and faced with this devastating news, they did what they do best: they got busy – crafting legislation to remove barriers to benefits and potentially life-saving drugs and treatments, and building a movement to fund that effort, and raise awareness. It was no ordinary campaign, but one his life might depend on.

In director Christopher Burke’s well-made and eye-opening documentary, which runs a brisk hour and 23 minutes, we learn a lot about the disease commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease, including that it is far more common than thought and far less likely to be linked to a family history. We also learn, shockingly, that the government requires those diagnosed with this fast moving disease to wait weeks for benefits – for no logical reason. The result is that ALS patients lose a lot of ground before they can even get started on fighting it. Further, there are restrictions on accessing experimental medicines and treatments, even though the disease is always fatal, taking away from ALS patients the power to make their own choice about the risks. These two barriers are what this brave, creative, determined couple turned their skills towards.

And skills they do have. This couple know the ins-and-outs of getting things done in government like few others, and it is inspiring to watch them work. Both are powerhouses of determination but they also exude charm and appeal, along with an uplifting optimism despite daunting odds. Still, they are up against the ticking clock of the disease. Resourceful and determined, they were both good at finding ways to extend his time – going far beyond what was originally predicted – but they could not stop that clock, which kept whittling away at Brian’s physical abilities.

Among the familiar faces you will see in this skillfully-constructed documentary as President Obama, and you get the sense that they are a well-liked and well-respected couple, and we quickly fall under their spell too. The documentary offers a good mix of expert interviews, footage of the couple in action on this campaign, plus looks back at their youth and their love story. There are also quiet moments of reflection for each of them, as they grapple with the situation.

The resulting documentary is admirable, and more inspiring than you might expect, along with the heartbreak, in a portrait of a couple who just won’t give up – for themselves or others facing ALS.

FOR LOVE & LIFE: NO ORDINARY CAMPAIGN is available streaming starting Tuesday, May 28, on Amazon Prime.

RATING: 3 out of 4 stars