Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down tells the extraordinary story of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who faced an assassination attempt in 2011 while speaking to constituents at a grocery store in Tucson. This documentary film handles the realities of gun violence in the United States with care as it highlights Gabby's recovery (the gun penetrated her brain), the impact of the experience on her political career, and her current life and role as an activist in the battle against gun violence.
The film is also a love story, as we see through her husband Mark Kelly's own footage of Gabby's recovery, the journey of a couple facing personal challenges, professional adjustments, and a plethora of new realities. Anchoring the film and Gabby's experience, as well as Mark's own rise to political involvement, is the couple's love. This balance of love with the grim reality of gun violence in the United States creates a film that speaks volumes and engages audiences boasting a rare 100 percent critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down premiered at South by Southwest in 2021 and is nominated for Best Documentary Feature and Best Political Documentary at the upcoming Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards.
In addition to the footage of Gabby's recovery and a poignant look at the act of violence that landed her in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury, the film also features interviews with Barack Obama and other friends, colleagues, and family members.
Gabby's is a story of resilience and a story of love in action. It is clear that the love and support of Gabby's family sustain her and that her love of her country propels her as she takes on a new public role for political action and engagement through the Giffords organization.
The film's directing duo, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy award-winning directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West, who also produced and directed the documentary RBG, demonstrate not only their skill as filmmakers but also their esteem for Gabby as they bring her very personal—and political—story to life. This film is an inspiration to all, but especially to girls and young women who can see in Gabby and the filmmakers' women leading with power and grace. Media librarians should consider this title for political library shelves and classrooms studying the ethics of gun control.
Journeys in Film created both a discussion guide and Independent Learning Guide to enhance engagement with this film. These materials are beneficial for classroom use, community engagement, independent learners, hybrid educational settings, and much more. You can find those free resources at: https://journeysinfilm.org/product/gabby-giffords-wont-back-down/.