On November 30th in Santa Clarita, California, Paul Walker and friend Roger Rodas lost their lives when the Porsche Carrera GT Rodas was driving crashed into two trees and a concrete lamp post. Walker was loved by fans all around the world and when he passed away, and he was in the middle of filming Furious 7. His family stepped in to help the filmmakers complete the film as a tribute to the late actor. I Am Paul Walker is a documentary that tells the story of the man most people didn’t know. It focuses mostly on who Walker was away from the spotlight, told by the people who knew him best, his family.
Director Adrian Buitenhuis (I Am Heath Ledger) brings together the family of the late actor and, through home videos and archival footage, they tell his story for the first time. He really comes off as a reluctant star, one who enjoyed what he did as far as acting goes, but he had literally no interest at all in being thrust into the public eye. Walker wanted to be with his family or out riding the waves. He seemed as if he was a surfer boy with a heart of gold.
Related Article: ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’ is a Perfect Documentary
There are numerous accounts of how he would give back, to help others who were in need. Paul founded ROWW: Reach Out Worldwide as a way to help around the world during natural disasters. He and a group of first responders spent time in Haiti saving lives after the 2010 earthquake. There’s some great behind-the-scenes footage of Walker shooting a promo and going off script because he felt as if it was too much about him and wanted it to focus on how everyone can be involved to help.
Missing from the film are his Fast Franchise co-stars, with the exception of Tyrese Gibson who shares a bit about their relationship, as does director Rob Cohen. Running Scared director Wayne Kramer gives some of the best stories about his work on that particular film (a role Walker was very proud of). He talked about how he needed a crane for a particular shot but couldn’t afford it due to budget constraints. The next day it magically appears on location, and guess who paid for it out of his own pocket? You know the answer.
The first hour or so of the film, you get that look at who he was told by Walker’s mother, father, uncle, and siblings. They radiate on the camera talking about how he had elevated their lives. It was uplifting and inspirational to hear those stories, only to have your heart torn from your chest when you see them talk about his passing. It’s terribly difficult to hear them recollect those final moments of his life, or the last time they saw or spoke with him. Five years have passed and the loss of a loved one never gets any easier.
I Am Paul Walker originally aired on television in August as a sixty-minute piece. It’s been expanded into a feature length film. Whether or not you were a fan, this documentary is a portrait of a man who wasn’t out for fame and fortune. Even though he achieved it, he was willing to give back all he could. We should all draw inspiration from how he treated and helped others. His legacy will live on through his films and in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to have known him.
Related Article: ‘Science Fair’ is a Charmingly Quirky Documentary
