Recovery

Matthew Faulkner, a 22 year-old graduate of Canisius college in Buffalo New York, gives us the story of a traumatic car accident and brain injury that nearly claimed his life.

In March of 2009, during his senior year of high school, Matt was in the back seat of a car when the vehicle collided with a pick up truck, leaving Matt in a several month-long coma. Matt was unconscious for weeks on end, with doctors unsure if he would survive and at risk of being pulled from life support.

Luckily, Matt was Mercy Flighted from the scene of the accident to Erie County Medical Center, where he would eventually regain consciousness and relearn to speak, walk, and even drive again.

Matt has no memory of the incident, therefor the documentary is a collaboration of interviews with Matt, his family, doctors and medical experts, nurses, friends, the clergy and all who were involved and touched by Matt's incredible recovery.

The film will be about his physical recovery- but will also go into depth on his mental and social long-term challenges. Beyond this, the film will explore people closely tied to Matt before, during, and after the accident and show how they were effected by the incident.

Structurally, the film is broken down into four acts that outline Matthew's recovery. The acts are an homage to Sigmund Freud's four stages of recovery: tragedy, hope, persistence and recovery.

The story itself is both heart wrenching and inspirational, and speaks to the broad human question, "how do we move on?"

Through reenactments, extensive interviews and a look into Matthew's daily life we seek to answer that question and better understand a process near and dear to all of us: Recovery.

  • Ryan Monolopolus
    Director
    64 Over 8, ALPHA, Dead Men, Friends to the End
  • Ryan Monolopolus
    Writer
    64 Over 8, ALPHA, Dead Men, Friends to the End
  • Matthew Faulkner
    Key Cast
  • Bruce Gibson Jr.
    Associate Producer
  • Jeremy Cournyea
    Associate Producer
  • Dien Vo
    Sound Mixer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    medical, recovery, faith
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 14 minutes 22 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 18, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16 x 9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Grand Buffalo Screening
    Buffalo, NY
    United States
    July 1, 2014
    Buffalo New York
  • UB CIRCA
    Buffalo, NY
    United States
    July 22, 2014
    Honors Selection
  • Canisius College : Special Screening
    Buffalo, NY
    United States
    June 3, 2014
Director Biography - Ryan Monolopolus

Ryan Monolopolus is young upcoming director currently based on the east coast. With a strong focus on narrative storytelling and action-based content, he has created a multitude of feature, short, episodic and commercial productions. From the civil war epic Shenandoah (2017), to the dramedy TV pilot 64 over 8, Ryan’s work has a distinct and diverse visual style that always considers the story first. Through his collaborations with some of the world’s leading puppeteers and most talented martial artists, he has created a unique network of artists that contribute to his storytelling ability.

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Director Statement

Matthew Faulkner was a close friend of mine in high school, but by the time of his traumatic accident we had grown apart. This documentary came as a result of my reconnection with my friend after a traumatic incident that changed his life forever.