Augie

Augie is a profound, captivating, and inspirational documentary that chronicles the life journey of Augie Nieto, a successful fitness entrepreneur and the person diagnosed with a deadly neuromuscular disease.

Directed by James Keach, the man behind "Walk the Line," this 2018 movie captures the depth of human spirit, the strength of willpower, and the transformative power of love. The drama of Nieto's life and his unique battle with ALS is narrated by industry professionals such as David Foster and Troy Jurgensen. Happily married to his longtime sweetheart and the titan of his industry, Augie Nieto’s life took a heartbreaking turn in 2005 when he was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The film begins when Nieto, the established pioneer of the fitness industry, learns of his illness. ALS is a progressive neurogenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, triggering a loss of muscle movement control, leading to paralysis while leaving the mind intact. The challenges are immensively daunting but Augie rises to the occasion with inspiring resilience, turning his life-altering diagnosis into a life-affirming cause that revolutionized the fight for a cure.

Augie allows the viewers to get an intimate look into his life, the ups and downs, the challenges he faced, and the relentless spirit to overcome them. This deeply personal story is wrapped in humor, love, pain, but most importantly hope. David Foster, an award-winning musician and record producer, provides gracing commentary throughout the movie, offering a deeper insight into Augie’s extraordinary life journey with his unforgettable tenacity and optimism.

The movie eloquently narrates how Augie, confronted with his new reality, defies it. Instead of succumbing to fate, Augie decides to fight. The movie does a commendable job, capturing how he mobilized not just himself but everyone around him, redirecting his entrepreneurial skills towards finding a cure for ALS. It consequently takes the viewers on a journey where Augie, along with his dedicated wife Lynne, built ‘Augie’s Quest’, an initiative seeking effective treatments and an ultimate cure for the disease.

Pat Fuscoe, another industry professional offering insight not just into Augie's life but also about ALS throughout the movie, reveals the significant role Augie played in bringing ALS to the forefront of medical research, devoting his time, wealth, and even his own body towards the fight for a cure.

The unique narrative of this documentary is not just about Nieto's unwavering fight against ALS, but also about an abundance of love story. The film captures Augie’s relationship with his beloved wife, Lynne, adding a heartfelt dimension to the movie. Their unconditional love and mutual support transcends the regular framework of a traditional love story, as they together face and fight Augie's illness.

Troy Jurgensen, another notable name contributing to the narrative of the movie, brings to life the commendable initiative of 'Augie's Quest,' and how Augie himself, even when faced with physical limitations, kept his spirit unbroken and his humor intact.

Augie, throughout its runtime, offers an inspirational insight into the life of a man who, instead of succumbing to fate, decides to challenge it. It allows viewers a glimpse into the reality of living with ALS, a condition mostly known to people through popular culture references and historical figures. However, more than ALS, the film is a story about courage, endurance, hope, love, and an undying spirit against all odds.

James Keach offers a gut-wrenching, yet hopeful narrative, an artistic encounter with one of life's harshest realities, yet a man's refusal to accept defeat. Augie is not just a powerful documentary revolving around an extraordinary life. It is an avenue into the universality of the human condition: hopes, dreams, love, life, and the fight against the inevitable. It offers a sense of hope and instills a belief in the power of resilience, valor, and human spirit.