Gabourey Sidibe is Edgy Heart of Gold Nurse in Come As You Are|SXSW ’19

What happens when three disabled men take a road trip driven by a nurse to have sex at a brothel? Comedic shenanigans in the form of Grant Rosenmeyer (Scotty), Hayden Szeto (Roger), Ravi Patel (Mo) and Gabourey Sidibe (Sam)…that’s what. Inspired by the true story of Asta Philpot, Come As You Are is a comedic, yet sensitive look at how challenging it can be for the disabled to navigate eating, drinking, walking or giving into sexual urges let alone do something about it.

This film will make you pause for the cause when you consider how frustrating it must be to do something that able bodied people take for granted. Have you ever thought about if your favorite movie theatre, hotel, shared ride or restaurant has access to for the disabled? Think about how incredibly dehumanizing it can be to be looked at and thought of as less than and how that must make one feel. Think about how it must feel to be attracted to someone and not know if the object of your desire will even know how to navigate being intimated with someone who has limited mobility. I had these questions and so much more, but director Richard Wong answered them with grace, realism and a ton of crude jokes to lighten up a subject matter that most tend to not focus on.

However, if you really think about it, none of this stopped the late scientist Stephen Hawking and it certainly didn’t stop this cast of diverse actors.

Gabourey Sidibe is an edgy nurse with a heart a gold that falls for one of her passengers and reminds you that love has no boundaries. Ravi Patel is excellent as Mo, as is Hayden Szeto as Roger. However, the one who steals the show is Grant Rosenmeyer. His sharp quips sprinkled with a little humanity and vulnerability are the reason you will want to see Come As You Are.

Now playing at the SXSW film festival, Come As You Are is screening March 12 and March 13.