Written and directed by Elisa Gambino, the older sister of a neglected adolescent boy faces her own fears so her brother can heal and experience the everyday joys and struggles of growing up.
There are sadly still many countries where disability or any sort of physical ailment is drowning in stigma, and not everyone is as lucky as Jary to have a sister like Jessa, who’ll care for him where their parents fell short. That’s really the heart of this documentary, it’s not about the surgery, or really even his appearance, it’s about family. It’s about the way that Jessa cares for Jary, whether that be ensuring he gets the medical procedures he needs to lead a happier life or aiding him in his recovery.
Elisa Gambino could have presented this story in a variety of different ways, she could easily have leant on the poignant nature of the discrimination, lack of access to healthcare or neglect which are explored, but she chose a humble, thoughtful style. It has a bittersweet tone but moves very casually and patiently, which has a fantastic way of letting the emotion be drawn out naturally rather than trying to hand it to you.
There’s also some strong editing work which pieces the story together in a way that manages to retain that slower pacing while smoothly spanning a good amount of time. The choice of black and white works really well, it helps keep a focus on its subjects. There’s no distractions, it’s dedicated to these characters and exploring their everyday lives.
Every Day After is a bittersweet exploration of what family means, or at least what it should. Where some people would find having to care for their sibling a burden, Jessa would have it no other way, filling this story with a big heart. It moves back and forth between the caring nature of their relationship and how they have to fight for Jaryto receive the healthcare he needs. Being both an everyday view of their lives and a larger example of the struggle people like Jary face with rampant stigma.
FilmCarnage.com 