“Patrice: The Movie,” which tells the story of Patrice Jetter, a woman with a disability who would like to marry her partner, will premiere on Hulu later this month. (TIFF)
For people with disabilities, choosing to get married can mean losing access to critical government benefits. A documentary set to air on Hulu spotlights one woman’s experience.
The film “Patrice: The Movie” follows Patrice Jetter, a school crossing guard in New Jersey who wants to marry the love of her life, Garry Wickham. The trouble is that since both of them have disabilities, even moving in together could compromise the Social Security and Medicaid benefits that they depend on. Nonetheless, Jetter and Wickham decide to plan a commitment ceremony.
The movie, which is described as a “documentary romantic comedy about the next frontier of marriage equality,” weaves in recreated scenes using child actors to show how Jetter struggled to obtain the house, job and life that she has, all of which are threatened by her desire to marry.
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“If you are lucky enough to find the person you want to be with, but if you’re disabled and collect Social Security or Medicaid benefits, you have to choose between being with your partner and your own survival. Not only can’t you get married, but you can’t even live with your partner. And so the fight for true marriage equality in this country is not over,” said Ted Passon, the filmmaker behind the 102-minute feature. “As a disabled person navigating this system, Patrice’s story is unfortunately very common. We’re telling a very ordinary story but through the lens of a person who is, herself, completely extraordinary.”
Jetter co-wrote the scripts and designed the sets for the recreations. Passon, who has known Jetter for 20 years, assembled a crew behind the scenes that included multiple team members with disabilities.
“Patrice: The Movie” will have its world premiere this weekend at the Toronto International Film Festival before debuting on Hulu Sept. 30.
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