Being Heumann, Siân Heder's Judy Heumann biopic, gets split reviews ahead of release
Two left-leaning US outlets review Siân Heder's CODA follow-up, a biopic of disability rights activist Judy Heumann. Both praise Ruth Madeley's lead performance but disagree on whether the film works as drama.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Being Heumann, directed by Siân Heder as the follow-up to her Best Picture winner CODA, is a biopic of the disability rights activist Judy Heumann. The A.V. ClubLC “a follow-up to her Best Picture winner CODA” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ IndieWireLC “Heder's look at a remarkable period in activist Judy Heumann's work” Read at IndieWire ↗ Left · 1Apple will release it in select theaters on 6 November 2026 and on Apple TV on 13 November; IndieWire's review was first published on 10 September during the Toronto International Film Festival. IndieWireLC “Apple will release the film in select theaters on Friday, November 6 and on Apple TV on Friday, November 13.”“This review was originally published on September 10, 2026 during the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.” Read at IndieWire ↗ Left · 1Heder wrote the script with Rebekah Taussig, adapting Heumann's autobiography; Heumann died in 2023, two years after she began working with Heder on the film. IndieWireLC “which she adapted from Heumann's autobiography alongside co-writer Rebekah Taussig”“she passed away in 2023, two years after she started working with Heder on the film” Read at IndieWire ↗
Left · 2The film centres on the 1977 occupation of the San Francisco federal building, preceded by a 1972 opening in New York; it follows the push to get Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act implemented, which needed the signature of Health, Education, and Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano, played by Mark Ruffalo. IndieWireLC “The film opens in 1972, because that's when Judy and eighty other activists staged a sit-in on Madison Avenue to protest the vetoing of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act”“It needed one last step: a signature from newly-installed Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Joseph Califano (Mark Ruffalo).” Read at IndieWire ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “Being Heumann follows the month or so where these men and women occupied a San Francisco government building” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 2Ruth Madeley stars as Heumann, and both reviewers single out her performance: The A.V. Club calls her "fiery, focused", while IndieWire calls it "a true star turn". The A.V. ClubLC “led by the fiery, focused Ruth Madeley as Judy” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ IndieWireLC “Ruth Madeley in a true star turn” Read at IndieWire ↗ Left · 1IndieWire's Kate Erbland calls the film "an essential biopic" that is unexpectedly "frisky and fun", praising its tight focus on one period, its ensemble of disabled performers, and its streak of joy, though she says some threads are lost among the many characters. IndieWireLC “Heder doesn't noodle on the cultural vegetable aspect of this story. Instead, "Being Heumann" becomes something unexpectedly frisky and fun.”“though we occasionally lose some threads along the way” Read at IndieWire ↗
Left · 1The A.V. Club's Anna McKibbin is more critical: she says the film "lacks any political heft", retreats into familiar biopic territory, and relies on obvious dramatic beats and overwrought dialogue, such as in its depiction of the Black Panthers bringing food to the protesters. The A.V. ClubLC “the disability rights biopic Being Heumann lacks any political heft”“These obvious dramatic beats awkwardly rewrite the 20-day slog to suit the big screen.” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 1McKibbin still finds plenty to enjoy, including the film's attention to how different disabilities shape the protest and the cast's performances, but concludes it is "less enjoyable than simply reading about reality". The A.V. ClubLC “there's still plenty to enjoy in its creative rendering of how different disabilities overlap, constrict, and expand any group's possibilities”“Being Heumann is less enjoyable than simply reading about reality.” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left3 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets are lean-left and review the film as a film. IndieWire celebrates it as an entertaining, life-affirming biopic; The A.V. Club respects its intent but faults it for sanitising political struggle.
- Emphasis
- IndieWire stresses the cast of disabled performers, the tight focus on one period and the joy in the story. The A.V. Club stresses the politics of organising and how well the film conveys them.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The A.V. Club does not discuss the casting of disabled actors or the film's festival premiere. IndieWire does not question whether the film conveys the political reality of organising.
- Charged language
- “glossy, hokey sheen”“made-for-streaming blandness”“essential biopic”“frisky and fun”
- For example
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“Being Heumann gives disability rights revolution a glossy, hokey sheen” — The A.V. Club
“Is an Essential Biopic That's Not Afraid to Have Some Fun” — IndieWire
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Being Heumann is Siân Heder's follow-up to CODA and stars Ruth Madeley as activist Judy Heumann.
- The film dramatises the San Francisco federal building sit-in over disability rights legislation.
- Apple releases it in theaters on 6 November and on Apple TV on 13 November 2026.
- Both outlets praise Madeley's performance.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the film succeeds as drama and political storytelling
- Left
- IndieWire calls it essential, rousing and joyous; The A.V. Club says it is glossy, hokey, lacking political heft and flattens history into entertainment.
Siân Heder person
As director and co-writer, Heder is credited with a tightly focused film that casts disabled performers; IndieWire sees it as a worthy follow-up to CODA, while The A.V. Club thinks it flattens history into entertainment.
“the filmmakers smartly zero in one on seminal slice of life to craft "Being Heumann."” — IndieWire
“Heder makes the mistake of flattening history into entertainment” — The A.V. Club
Ruth Madeley person
Madeley, herself a wheelchair user, is praised by both outlets for her portrayal of Heumann.
“Madeley (herself a wheelchair user)” — IndieWire
“led by the fiery, focused Ruth Madeley as Judy” — The A.V. Club
Left3 articles
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The A.V. ClubLC · · Opinion
Being Heumann gives disability rights revolution a glossy, hokey sheen
Mixed Admires the film's intentions and lead performance but argues it settles into conventional biopic territory and dilutes the politics of real organising.
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IndieWireLC · · Opinion
Celebratory Presents the film as a vital, joyful and inspiring biopic, with strong casting and a star turn from Madeley.
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The GuardianLC · · Opinion
Being Heumann review – stirring biopic of a pioneering disability rights campaigner
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 2 Nov 20:00 First The A.V. ClubLC Being Heumann gives disability rights revolution a glossy, hokey sheen Opinion
- 4 Nov 17:00 +44h 59m IndieWireLC ‘Being Heumann’ Review: Siân Heder’s ‘CODA’ Follow-Up Is an Essential Biopic That’s Not Afraid to Have Some Fun Opinion
- 5 Nov 07:00 +59h The GuardianLC Being Heumann review – stirring biopic of a pioneering disability rights campaigner Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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