PBS has come out with some of the finest documentaries out there. Many of them stem from their American Masters series. The latest is American Masters: Elsa Sjunneson, directed by Cameron S. Mitchell and written by Julia Muniz. It’s a good one.
Elsa Sjunneson is a deafblind fencer, hiker, and published author. The documentary begins with her listing the stereotypes and misassumptions she has faced throughout her life. So, right away, the subject tells you everything she is and everything she is not. Sjunneson discusses the issues as well as strengths a deafblind person can face, and up until now, I did not know that there was a spectrum for the deafblind. When she was born, her parents were told to put Sjunneson into an institution. Although her parents said no to that, there were still obstacles she and her parents faced.

“…a deafblind fencer, hiker, and published author.”
Sjunneson’s parents were queer and living during the height of the AIDS crisis, with her father having AIDS. Feeling that illness was not exactly tolerated by society, her parents felt that they had to hide the fact that Sjunneson had disabilities. Dealing with her issues and what was/wasn’t accepted in society, her father taught Sjunneson how to be an advocate.
As always, PBS made American Masters: Elsa Sjunneson quite informative, even with a seven-minute runtime. Something I wish the documentary did was spend more time on Sjunneson’s achievement of becoming a comic book writer with Marvel. That’s the comic book nerd in me talking.
American Masters: Elsa Sjunneson proves that Sjunneson is even more than what is listed in the title. Along with being a fencer, hiker, and published author, she is also a swing dancer, a memoirist, a speculative fiction writer, and a skier. She is also an inspiration. Sjunneson’s story is relatable for anyone who also has disabilities and for anyone who has faced adversity.