Life According to Sam (2013) User Reviews

The Greatest Superhero Movie I've Ever Seen

[pere-25366 · 9/10 · 26 June 2019]

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.

What an Incredible Fun Smart Kid!

[GeoPierpont · 8/10 · 7 November 2015]

I only know about Progeria from this film. Sam's spirited enthusiastic and keenly goal oriented mentality made me soar with joy. He is one fortunate child to have so many wonderful caring brilliant people support and surround him.

He recognizes the importance of the work his parents are involved in to prevent this disease from taking just a handful of children throughout the world. You see him bravely face the endless procedures to document his progress in drug trials. You share his love of music and the drumline.

I rarely get to catch a glimpse of such a beautiful child and his life not devoured by death, disease and doom.

Very inspiring documentary about a boy who just wants to live and make a contribution to society. I feel blessed to have known him through this vehicle and pray that the efforts of all involved will produce a cure.

High recommend for all who have a challenging chronic illness or children with incurable diseases. Very uplifting especially when you are not sure of the outcome. Sadly Sam has since passed but his memory will be forever captured in many hearts.

In memory of Sam Berns.

[MattBrady099 · 7/10 · 12 March 2015]

What a remarkable boy that Sam Berns was.

Life According to Sam tells the story about Sam Berns when he had progeria, a progressive aging disorder so rare that fewer than 250 children in the world had it at the time. Little was known about the disease, and all children with progeria died of heart attack or stroke at an average age of 13. Told there was no treatment or cure, they refused to accept that as the final verdict.

Now normally I'm not such a big fan of documentary's but a couple of times I will find a interesting and enjoyable one time to time, but I don't really watch that much Documentary's. But what really got me interested in Life According to Sam is the fact when Sam Berns sadly passed away in January 2014 and I heard nothing but great and inspiring things from this kid and a Documentary about him made me inserted to know more from Sam and boy dose this Documentary do it well.

I won't lie but this movie or Documentary if you like to call almost brought me into little tears, yeah I know it's not very manly to admit cracking up in a couple of scenes but since I've always got to be honest when it comes to movie I won't lie that this only most brought me into tears.

Sean Fine and Andrea Nix did a excellent job directing this Documentary with much care and effort that made this more effective to me.

For problems I didn't really have any to be honest. And the reason why I'm not going to give it 5/5 start's is because it's great but not on the level of oh my god this is amazing 5/5 star's, but it's still good without a doubt and if you had the chance to watch this then go ahead it may not be a easy watch sometimes but it's still worth checking.

Extraordinary Film

[Tembrock · 10/10 · 30 January 2013]

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.

Life According to Sam is at the top of my list of "Most Inspiring Films of 2013."

[georgepeternel · 10/10 · 25 October 2013]

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.

Brilliant and uplifting

[radford_andy · 10/10 · 20 February 2014]

I have been rating movies on IMDb for quite a few years but have never written a review. After seeing this documentary I felt I needed to write something that would encourage people to watch it.

Being a father of a 2 year old this documentary was hard to watch at first. I found myself putting myself in the parent's position and found it heart breaking. The more you watch the more of Sam's personality shines through and this brought a smile to my face. By the end I felt uplifted and lucky that my little boy is healthy. I will never take that for granted.

This should be watched by everybody. If you can watch this without welling up then you have no soul.

Sam has sadly passed away recently. My thoughts go to his parents and friends who must miss a brilliant and brave boy.

Heartfelt and moving!

[BeccaGudd · 10/10 · 8 November 2018]

When I was watching the documentary I was thinking wow this boy Sam Berns is amazing and so brave! Sam has a rare disorder but that doesn't seem to stop him from being courageous. It was really sad to see all the tests he had to go through but his parents seemed so dedicated on helping him and doing their best for their son. He is a true inspiration and I couldn't take my eyes away from the TV. Absolutely worth watching!

Insipiring

[vuks-53375 · 10/10 · 24 February 2020]

This movie deserves more attention and more awarness for such hard disease. I watch movie as 20-old, and i can only imagine how much strength these parents must have.

As they say 'Healthy man have 100 wishes, sick man only one' .

Life changing

[pensacolacomputer · 10/10 · 9 May 2020]

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.

Informative but Long

[jerry-29663 · 4/10 · 12 July 2017]

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.

Sam Berns, my great new earth bound angel.

[Msbnitski · 10/10 · 10 November 2022]

Growing up and being a child that thought my world would end if things did not go my way, my wonderful parents would remind me that someone is always worse off than my own self centered, delusional, sometimes bratty self. They were of course, correct.

This movie grabs you in so many ways that all of us should be ashamed at how self centered we all are. Life is a huge challenge but, you look at this family and you can't help but smile at how all of them were determined to never ask for pity but instead they embraced life's challenges and worked through them learning how to make moments and time matter to the fullest.

I'm not a religious person but, I believe, after watching this program and seeing the beautiful innocent faces of these people that if there is a heaven they all have a special place waiting for all of them. God bless all of the special people that try to make a difference for these angels among us. I think it's time for some Christmas miracles and some special good cheer.