Although the personal nature of the film brings some weakness, it is also the reason it engages and loves as it does

This documentary opens with some very old grainy footage and we are introduced to a younger version of Ivan Kander and his friend Rob Jones, making films with questionable production values but a lot of enthusiasm. We then jump into more recent times to find that, as we know, Kander remains working in the film industry, while Jones had served with the Marines in Afghanistan, where he had been hit by an IED and lost both his legs. As the title suggests, we follow his story from the point of survival, through the recovery and into the forward facing stage.

This is clearly a very personal film for all involved – of course for those in front of the camera but also for Kander since he has no distance from the subject. As a result there is a certain level of access and tone that the film gets that may not have been the case if it were made by some random film crew coming in. Accordingly we do get good across with Jones and those who know him and served with him; everyone seems relaxed and happy to talk. Of course the content of this is what you would expect, but it is real people and I had no issue hearing specific examples of bravery, spirit, heart and friendship because they are not a script but rather a real person. It is a film that heartens, not in a way that makes everything okay, but just to use Jones as a model of spirit and fight. The film never gets into the heart of darkness which I am sure Jones must get to, even in his quiet minutes, but he is honest enough about the struggle that it never feels like anything other than realism.

The slight downside of this being such a personal film is that Kander seems reluctant to cut aspects which didn't work quite as well. For me the stage comedy sections didn't really fit or add, and I would have much preferred more time outside the hospital where Jones did his contributions. Likewise the film does run surprisingly long, even if it doesn't necessarily feel like it does. Overall though, this is an engaging film which offers the sense of a person with spirit and courage, and it is this that draws the viewer to Jones and to his story.

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Survive. Recover. Live: The Rob Jones Story

Sergeant Rob Jones lost his legs when struck by an IED in Afghanistan. One year on, this is his story.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Survive. Recover. Live: The Rob Jones Story

Photos

Top Cast9

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed