On paper, “ Patrice ” sounds like a heartbreaking story — but the documentary is as joyous and life-affirming as they come. Now streaming on Hulu , Ted Passon’s film follows Patrice Jetter and her partner, Garry, as they navigate the news that if they marry (or even live together) as two people with disabilities, the government will end their benefits. Yes, in the year 2024, the United States government still penalizes people for getting married, and “Patrice” doesn’t shy away from the inhumanity of that.
But it also follows Jetter’s buoyant example: there is no obstacle that she doesn’t seem capable of surmounting. Passon had known Jetter for years before making the documentary, and the film stemmed from his desire to work with her again after she appeared on the Netflix series “Worn Stories.” “Her segment was the most popular in the entire series,” Passon told IndieWire.
“So it was like, ‘OK, it’s not just me that thinks she’s awesome. This is an objective fact.'” Coming off of four years working on “Philly D.
A.,” about the criminal justice system, Passon was ready for something completely different. And Jetter’s infectious personality seemed like the perfect counterweight.
But it took some time to find the key to the film: recreations of Jetter’s story using her art as backdrops and a cast of children to recount her life before the documentary. “From the first moment, it was clear that her artistic vision is so part and parcel .