If Peter Berg’s gripping Patriots Day centered on Boston’s law enforcement and how they reacted to the marathon bombing of 2013, then David Gordon Green’s true-life drama Stronger looks set to tell its story through the lens of Jeff Bauman, a 27-year-old Boston native left on the brink of death after the attack.
While waiting at the finish line to cheer on his ex-girlfriend, Erin, Bauman was sadly one of the 16 people who lost limbs once the blast occurred – both legs, in this particular case – and was forced to undergo a long, painful road to recovery that involved PTSD, crippling physical pain and, ultimately, becoming the “living embodiment of the Boston Strong.” It’s a story with enough raw emotion to reduce us to an emotional wreck, and by adapting Bauman and Bret Witter’s non-fiction novel, Green and screenwriter John Pollono will no doubt deliver a poignant, touching tribute to those affected by the Boston attack.
On board to help bring that story to life are Jake Gyllenhaal (The Division) and Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), two equally dynamic actors that could well be in line for award nominations for their respective performances.
The official synopsis for the film is as follows:
Stronger follows Jeff Bauman, an ordinary man who captured the hearts of his city and the world to become the symbol of hope following the infamous 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Gyllenhaal stars as Jeff, a 27-year-old, working-class Boston man who was at the marathon to try and win back his ex-girlfriend Erin (Maslany). Waiting for her at the finish line when the blast occurs, he loses both his legs in the attack. After regaining consciousness in the hospital, Jeff is able to help law enforcement identify one of the bombers, but his own battle has just begun. He tackles months of physical and emotional rehabilitation with the unwavering support of Erin and his family. It is Jeff’s deeply personal account of the heroic journey that tests a family’s bond, defines a community’s pride and inspires his inner courage to overcome devastating adversity. Filled with raw emotion, humanity and humor, Stronger is the inspirational real-life story of the man who became the living embodiment of “Boston Strong.”
Stronger, also starring Miranda Richardson and Clancy Brown, is expected to open on September 22nd, a date it currently shares with Battle of the Sexes, The LEGO Ninjago Movie and Matthew Vaughn’s action sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle.