--- title: "Gigi & Nate: Tragedy Turns to Hope" description: Sr. Nancy Usselmann, FSP, recommends Gigi & Nate for fans of true stories about people who overcome obstacles through hope. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20220909%20SNancy%201.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/gigi-nate-tragedy-turns-to-hope#) [MEDIA](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/media) # Gigi & Nate: Tragedy Turns to Hope Sep 9, 2022 10:00:00 AM  |  by [Sister Nancy Usselmann, fsp](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/sister-nancy-usselmann-fsp) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20220909%20SNancy%201.jpg) *Sr. Nancy Usselmann, FSP, recommends *Gigi & Nate* for fans of true stories about people who overcome obstacles through hope.* --- When you need an uplift, watch *Gigi & Nate.* This touching love story, directed by Nick Hamm and written by David Hudgins, is based on real life. It speaks to the indominable strength of the human spirit to survive no matter the challenges. I am always emotionally invested in true stories about people who overcome obstacles through hope. *Gigi & Nate* does not disappoint.    ![GGNATE_27x40_1sheet_72dpi_FM2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/GGNATE_27x40_1sheet_72dpi_FM2.jpg?width=1944&name=GGNATE_27x40_1sheet_72dpi_FM2.jpg)   A vivacious 18-year-old, Nate Gibson (Charlie Rowe) spends his last weeks of vacation with his family and friends before heading off to college. As cocky as teenage boys can be, Nate jumps off a high cliff into clear water. He shakes off the initial body shock of such a jump, but later develops severe headaches and convulsions. He’s rushed to the hospital and the doctor discovers the lake water gave Nate amoebic meningitis, damaging his brain and leaving him paralyzed.  His frantic mother (Marcia Gay Harden) and father (Jim Belushi) adjust their lives to adapt to Nate’s wheelchair-bound lifestyle. Their relationship with their son who can’t even feed himself slowly transforms as they all learn how to live with Nate’s disability. But Nate’s frustration and anger at his incapacitated situation leaves him lacking motivation to retrain his muscles. He doesn’t see the purpose and feels there is no hope.  The family gets Nate a service animal. Animals sense human beings’ needs and emotions and so can be a support for those who lack the use of their limbs. They find him a once-mistreated capuchin monkey. This type of monkey can become aggressive when put into a domesticated situation, but Gigi seems to adapt to Nate’s environs. After several days observing the physical therapist train Nate to reach for a ball on a table, Gigi jumps in and puts the ball into Nate’s hand. A friendship forms.    ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20220909%20SNancy%202.jpg?width=1080&name=20220909%20SNancy%202.jpg)   With Gigi giving Nate a new sense of life and purpose, the family grow accustomed to the monkey’s presence. Nate and Gigi become inseparable and Nate’s physical abilities improve tremendously, thanks to Gigi’s assistance. Nate tries to reach for a pencil on a table and Gigi pulls it further away making Nate work harder to reach it. It’s an amusing scene.  Nate reconnects with a girl he met before his accident. Lori (Zoe Colletti) and Nate develop a sweet and loving relationship.  Not everyone is happy with Gigi’s presence. When they go to the grocery store a woman who works for animal protection (Chloe Gaines) tells Nate that he cannot bring a monkey into the store. They soon find out that she has clout and brings them to court. It is beyond me why this woman would have such a fit over a monkey being a service animal. It was obvious Gigi was not a pet but helps a young paralyzed man.    ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20220909%20SNancy%203.jpg?width=1080&name=20220909%20SNancy%203.jpg)   This film presents a simple but moving story of a boy and his animal. Yet, it relays the everyday experiences of those who are physically challenged. Their struggles are excruciating. Sometimes hope comes from the most unexpected places and unsuspecting people, or animals! We all need purpose to our lives. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here. God created us for some definite service and our existence affects other people in their journey of life. This film reminds us that we are on this earth for a reason, and part of the journey is to believe we can each make a difference when we have hope! *Gigi & Nate* is rated PG-13 for some thematic material and language. --- Copyright 2022 Sr. Nancy Usselmann, FSP Images: ©2022 Roadside Attractions. Credit: Anne Marie Fox. All rights reserved.  First published at [bemediamindful.org](https://media.pauline.org/reviews). ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fgigi-nate-tragedy-turns-to-hope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fgigi-nate-tragedy-turns-to-hope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fgigi-nate-tragedy-turns-to-hope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Gigi%20%26%20Nate%3A%20Tragedy%20Turns%20to%20Hope) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fgigi-nate-tragedy-turns-to-hope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fgigi-nate-tragedy-turns-to-hope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Sister Nancy Usselmann, fsp](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/SISTER%20NANCY%20USSELMANN%2c%20FSP.jpeg) ### [Sister Nancy Usselmann, fsp](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/sister-nancy-usselmann-fsp) Sr. Nancy Usselmann, FSP is a Daughter of St Paul and the Director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Los Angeles, CA. She is a Media Literacy Education Specialist, theologian, international speaker, film reviewer, and blogger for [BeMediaMindful.org](http://bemediamindful.org). Her book *A Sacred Look: Becoming Cultural Mystics* is a theology of popular culture published by Wipf & Stock Publishing. ## Related Blog Articles [ Father Stu: Mark Wahlberg’s Movie Speaks About the Value of Suffering Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/father-stu-mark-wahlbergs-movie-speaks-about-the-value-of-suffering) [ Devotion: Hero from a Forgotten War Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/devotion-hero-from-a-forgotten-war) [ Listening in an Age of Information Overload Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/listening-in-an-age-of-information-overload) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.