By: MJ Asuncion
Life can change in an instant. One day you’re rushing to work, biking down the street or meeting up with friends, your biggest concerns being whether you’ll be late or what you’re going to wear. Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changes. Suddenly, you’re lying in a rehabilitation center, coming to terms with the fact that you’ve lost the full ability to walk and are now confined to a wheelchair. This is the devastating new reality for one young woman in the narrative film Stand Up.
Vera (Lucia Zemene) is living life one day at a time, embracing spontaneity, taking risks and believing that happiness is the only plan she really needs. After a night out with friends; however, a tragic accident changes everything, leaving her with one less leg and forcing her to adapt to life in a wheelchair. Struggling to come to terms with her disability, Vera meets Xander (Daan Buringa), who has spent his entire life using a wheelchair. Surrounded by a close-knit community of differently abled friends, Xander encourages Vera to embrace her new reality rather than fight against it. At the same time, Vera watches her old friends continue moving forward without her, leaving her caught between the life she once had and the one she now faces. Unable to fully reconnect with her past yet uncertain where she belongs in the present, Vera is left feeling isolated and lost.
Lucia Zemene delivers a profound performance as Vera, capturing her inner turmoil and emotional distress with remarkable authenticity. Through subtle expressions and restrained body language, Zemene makes it easy to feel the weight of Vera’s suffering without relying on overly dramatic moments. As Vera slowly shifts from self-pity to determination, the transformation feels natural and deeply affecting, allowing the audience to experience that emotional journey alongside her. Opposite Zemene, Daan Buringa is a breath of fresh air as Xander. Crass, outspoken, and unapologetic, Xander refuses to conform to a world that has not always treated people with disabilities fairly. Rather than trying to fit in, he embraces who he is and lives life on his own terms. Buringa shares an effortless chemistry with Zemene, creating a relationship that feels genuine and refreshingly uncomplicated. Their playful banter and contrasting personalities make every scene they share engaging to watch.
Written and directed by Mari Sanders, Stand Up marks Sanders’ feature film debut. He first established himself as a writer and director with his graduation short Rue Des Invalides (2012), an autobiographical story about a boy searching for love in a wheelchair-hostile Paris. Sanders is also known for the award-winning youth short Go Daan Go! (2014) and his documentary short 80% Disabled (2017). As a wheelchair user himself, Sanders frequently explores themes of belonging, identity and the experience of navigating a world not designed for people with disabilities. Those recurring themes are woven throughout Stand Up, giving the film an authenticity that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Stand Up is a moving story about unexpected tragedy and the difficult journey that follows. It is a heartfelt portrayal of resilience, acceptance and the strength it takes to rebuild a life after everything has changed. The emotions feel honest, drawing you into Vera’s experience from beginning to end. Whether you’ve personally faced a life-altering event or watched someone close to you struggle through one, the film offers a poignant reminder that moving forward is never easy, but it is always possible.