I got the opportunity to watch the documentary Jeannette after its premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival this past weekend. The film was made by Maris Curran (Five Nights in Maine, While I Yet Live), and it told the story of Jeannette Feliciano, a survivor of the Pulse Orlando night club shooting.
Jeannette is a queer Puerto Rican single mother who takes care of her son while participating in professional body building and running a gym as a personal trainer. By looking at her, you see a stunning woman who has worked incredibly hard to get where she is. But her pain that lies beneath the surface that you don’t see as she motivates and pushes others to become great is what is at the heart of this film.
Jeannette is still dealing with the pain and trauma that comes with being a survivor of such a terrorist attack. In the film, she also travels to Puerto Rico to help some of her family in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. As Jeannette travels, maintains a relationship, works for another body building title, works in the gym, and bridges the generations in her home between her mother and son, you occasionally see her anxiety and emotions attached to her trauma bubble to the surface.
This film focuses on the life of a person after they have gone through something unimaginable. Jeannette shows us that we can be strong, and that strength includes allowing ourselves to feel our emotions as they present. She exemplifies grace and hope for life after a near-death experience.
Jeannette will be playing festivals throughout the year, with official announcements regarding release to be made soon.
