People around the world know and love the story of Harry Potter and his wizarding world. Now many fans are learning another side of the story through the newly released film David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived. The documentary looks at the friendship that formed between Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe and David Holmes, his main stunt double, who sustained a spinal cord injury on the set of one of the movies. 

The film gives background on how Holmes got into the stunt-double business and shows behind-the-scenes footage of the Harry Potter movies. Holmes typically tried out stunts first to see whether or not they were safe for Radcliffe to perform. From the many shots of riding on broomsticks, falling from great heights, and brawling through fight scenes, Holmes’ dedication shines through and is one of the roots of a brotherly relationship that evolved between Radcliffe and Holmes. 

Then came the moment I was waiting for and also dreading: a clip of the rehearsal for a stunt that went wrong and ultimately changed the trajectory of Holmes’ life. The scene portrays the impact of an explosion in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, released in 2009. During the stunt, Holmes is pulled back by a harness attached to an overweighted pulley system. He gets pulled into a wall and the force of impact fractures his neck at the C6-7 level. While the documentary doesn’t show the graphic details, it is still emotional to witness the moment that caused his injury, while knowing firsthand the difficult recovery that is to follow. 

The next scenes show Holmes in the hospital recovering from his accident, surrounded by family and friends, including Radcliffe. The film gives a deeply personal look at how a spinal cord injury affects not only Holmes but those close to him as well. His mother is angry and wants to hold someone accountable for his accident. The stunt coordinator, Greg Powell, has regrets to this day. Holmes ultimately decides not to sue Warner Bros. Entertainment, which produced the Harry Potter movies, but says in the documentary that he was “looked after” by the studio’s insurance policy. 

Newly injured, Holmes remains extremely optimistic throughout his recovery. He works to raise awareness for safety in stunt work, and travels the world. But he also documents his concern about the increased loss of function he’s experienced due to a syrinx, a rare complication where a cyst causes pressure on the spinal cord. I could personally relate to this part of the film. After having a T3 spinal cord injury for over 10 years, I developed a syrinx on my cervical spine that caused permanent hand weakness. I resonated with the anxiety and grief Holmes feels when losing strength and function.  

My critique about the film is that the second half, focusing on his recovery, lost my interest and would be stronger if those parts were condensed. It shows a lot about Holmes adapting to his disability, the impact that his injury has on others and how he comes to terms with his new reality. If I were newly injured or had never heard of SCI, I would’ve been more intrigued. But because I have been injured for most of my life and am surrounded by disability on a regular basis, both personally and professionally, I yearned for more behind-the-scenes content about filming Harry Potter. 

Still, the film gives a realistic representation of disability, a rarity for mainstream productions, and is worth a watch. It shows that anyone can become part of this community in the blink of an eye. It doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life with a disability: chronic pain, relying on caregivers, and the impact on one’s mental health. But it also serves as proof that life does go on. It promises that, with a strong support system and an open mind, you can find purpose again.