Life According to Sam

Because ever single person in this story is as much a superhero as any character I've ever seen on-screen before. Whether it's Sam, his parents, all of the children we meet, their parents; there's a fervent focus and persistence to living life to the fullest and finding lemonade in the sourest of lemons life has to offer, moving you in inexplicable ways. Scott and Leslie, the parents of Sam, are truly saints and the latter's dedication to finding a cure is simply breathtaking. Above all, it really just infuriates you how something so cruel like progeria could ever exist.

I wish I had the opportunity to meet Sam, who sadly passed away a year after the film's release. He seemed like a genuinely awesome person who just wanted to enjoy life and all of its simplest pleasures. He inspires me to want to live everyday to the fullest and I hope anyone who hasn't seen this documentary does, if just to get to know this wonderful human being.

Three intertwined stories are creatively woven together in this somewhat understated gem: a story of how a child with the rare and untreatable disease progeria lives and views life as it has been dealt to him; a chronicle of how his parents'love for him provided them with moments of fear, anxiety, struggle and yes, celebration; and an insider's view of how the world of medical research and clinical trials really works.

Connect these dots with the themes of love, courage, persistence,and overcoming tremendous odds and you have a film that made me think and feel. And think and feel some more.

This film took more time then necessary to make the viewer aware or the ravages of this disease. I found myself wanting to fast forward at places where time seemed to stand still. I would have rather seen a movie on this subject with less focus on a single individual. I would like to see another ob this topic better produced and directed. This one should have been edited down to about 60 min. and it would have earned a 10 from me.

Great documentary. If you dont have tears at some point watching it, you might want to check to see if you have a pulse and a heart.

Because I saw this, I am going to try to change my life some...I spend way too much time watching tv and relaxing, when life is just too short. Sam taught me to live life to the fullest, and dont let it pass you by. I know you are gone now, but I just wanted to say, Thank you Sam.

This is one of those films that I'm simply a better person for having seen. I was fortunate enough to see it at the Sundance Film Festival and enjoy and Q&A with both the filmmakers and Sam himself with his parents (via Skype on the big screen).

It is a wonderfully intimate look at an incredibly challenging turn of events for this family that discovers their son has this rare disease and the choices they make in reaction to a bleak prognosis by doctors. Most of all I think I enjoyed Sam's perspective. As the movie title indicates we're let in to the world view of this young man and even as I type this I well up in recalling his wonderfully optimistic and yet realistic look at life.

Sometimes I see films like this advertised and I avoid them because I think the subject matter is going to be difficult and I'd rather see something more escapist. That's fine but I would only say that if that is your take after seeing the subject matter, see the film anyway! You'll not regret it. In many ways it's extremely life affirming and very positive.

Bravo to the filmmakers and to the family for sharing their lives with us.