or


[09/28/10 - 11:49 AM]
HBO Documentary Monica & David, Chronicling the Event-Filled First Year and Beyond of a Marriage Between Adults with Down Syndrome, Debuts OcT. 14
Said broadcoast coincides with Down Syndrome Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

[via press release from HBO]

HBO DOCUMENTARY MONICA & DAVID, CHRONICLING THE EVENT-FILLED FIRST YEAR AND BEYOND OF A MARRIAGE BETWEEN ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME, DEBUTS OCT. 14 DURING NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH

In 1983, the life expectancy for people with Down syndrome was 25 years. Today, they can live into their 60s and older.

Blissfully in love, Monica and David are part of a new generation living with Down syndrome, who want what most adults want: love, work and independence. Chronicling their storybook wedding and the challenging start of married life together, the touching documentary MONICA & DAVID debuts THURSDAY, OCT. 14 (8:00-9:15 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO and HBO Latino, during Down Syndrome Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Other HBO playdates: Oct. 17 (3:45 p.m.), 20 (8:30 a.m., midnight), 23 (9:30 a.m.) and 26 (2:15 p.m.)

Other HBO Latino playdates: Oct. 17 (3:45 p.m.), 20 (8:30 a.m., midnight), 23 (9:30 a.m.) and 26 (2:15 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Oct. 18 (6:00 a.m.) and Nov. 3 (8:00 p.m.) and 6 (6:00 a.m.)

Winner of the Best Documentary Feature award at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival, MONICA & DAVID is full of humor, romance and everyday drama. Blending fly-on-the-wall footage and personal interviews, first-time director Alexandra Codina (who is Monica's cousin) explores the complex lives of the newlyweds and the devoted families who support them.

The film begins with the wedding of the thirtysomething couple, in love and full of hope and laughter. By their side are two fearless mothers realizing a lifelong dream of a "normal" life for their adult children as they embark on one of the biggest journeys of their lives.

Monica and David's parents encourage them to develop their own interests, while keeping them close to home and sheltered from the outside world. After the wedding, David moves in with Monica and her mother and stepfather, Maria Elena and Bob, and the couple begins to dream of a more independent life. There is a constant grey line between the young couple's capacity as adults, and questions of just how much assistance they need, and whether their parents are willing to let go.

The mothers' biggest fear is what will happen when they are no longer there to support David and Monica. This concern leads to an epiphany for Maria Elena, who poignantly comments, "As parents, we want people to look upon our children with special needs like anyone else. We want them to be treated with respect and with dignity... And yet, because we want to protect them so much, we are typically the first ones who treat them poorly by subconsciously denying them their rights to have a normal life."

After the honeymoon, the realities of everyday life resurface. When Maria Elena and Bob move just north of Miami, Monica and David are also uprooted, disrupting the routines they rely upon. In the midst of the chaos, David is diagnosed with diabetes, further threatening the couple's dream of autonomy.

Maria Elena and Bob accompany them to Best Buddies, an organization that creates opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where an employment consultant explains, "Ultimately, it's about independence � independence with support."

Gradually, Monica and David take the first steps towards more independent lives, volunteering for a family friend's charity sale, cultivating friendships in their new community and joining a theater company. And Maria Elena and Bob learn that while they are concerned about the couple's welfare, it's important to let them go out into the world.

"There is a tendency to infantilize people with Down syndrome, but Monica and David's love, and their desire for an adult life, are very real," explains director Alexandra Codina. "Like all issues relating to adults with intellectual disabilities � dating, marriage, housing, employment, education, the future and parents' roles � there is no clear line. But there is a clear right for all individuals to pursue their dreams and potential."

She adds, "Each person living with a disability can have a completely different way of dealing with life's circumstances. What is so exciting is how many people who once would have been overlooked are now able to thrive in a variety of environments, including work and relationships."

Alexandra Codina was named one of the "10 Filmmakers to Watch in 2009" by The Independent.

MONICA & DAVID is an HBO Documentary Films presentation; directed and produced by Alexandra Codina; produced by Deborah Dickson; editors, Mary Mahardt and Paola Gutierrez-Ortiz; cinematographer, David Fenster; cinematographers, Juan Carlos Zaldivar and Abel Klainbaum; composer, Steven Schoenberg. For HBO: senior producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.





  [september 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[09/18/25 - 04:01 PM]
Video: Two Awkward Souls, One Unlikely Connection - "Romantics Anonymous" Trailer and Key Art Hint at a Tangled Love Square
Streaming on October 16, "Romantics Anonymous" follows Sosuke (Shun Oguri) and Hana (Han Hyo-joo), two adults who have long stumbled through life avoiding romance - until a fateful encounter over chocolate changes everything.

[09/18/25 - 11:36 AM]
Great American Media Serves Up "Christmas By the Spoonful" (wt), Starring Jill Wagner and Trevor Donovan, An Original Movie Premiere for Great American Christmas 2025
In the film, Beth Green (Wagner) a devoted cafe owner, returns to her hometown of Snow Ridge to help her parents host the town's most cherished tradition, the annual Yuletide Potluck, a holiday potluck that welcome military families and veterans who might otherwise spend Christmas alone.

[09/18/25 - 11:15 AM]
NBC Comedy Locks in Comedy Slate Adding "Stumble" and "The Paper" to November Schedule
New series "Stumble" will debut Friday, November 7 at 8:30/7:30c; while "The Paper" is set to premiere Monday, November 10 at 8:30/7:30c.

[09/18/25 - 11:00 AM]
Starz Sets Lead Cast for Propulsive New Crime Drama "Fightland" as Production Begins in London
In addition, BAFTA-Award winner Otto Bathurst has been confirmed as director for the first two episodes, and Sebastain Thiel has been confirmed as a director on season one.

[09/18/25 - 10:31 AM]
"Starting 5" Season 2 - Date Announcement & First Look Photos
The new season - featuring Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, and James Harden - premieres October 16 on Netflix.

[09/18/25 - 10:08 AM]
Video: "House of David" Season 2 Official Trailer - Watch Only on Wonder Project on Prime Video October 5th
As Saul's reign unravels, the nation stands on the edge of chaos.

[09/18/25 - 10:08 AM]
"106 & Sports" Set to Premiere October 15 on BET, Hosted by Cam Newton and Ashley Nicole Moss
Marking the 25th anniversary of the legacy show and capturing the energy of the iconic brand, "106 & Sports" delivers a fresh countdown highlighting sports, music, and entertainment like never before.

[09/18/25 - 10:03 AM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Reveals Season 34 Theme Nights
Each week, the celebrity and pro duos will dance routines set to iconic music celebrating legendary eras and artists, unforgettable pop-culture moments and more.

[09/18/25 - 10:02 AM]
ABC News Studios and "20/20" Announce "Robert Redford: The Life & Legacy of an American Icon - Special Edition of 20/20"
The one-hour special - airing Thursday, September 18 on ABC - celebrates the life and legacy of the actor and Oscar-winning filmmaker who passed away on September 16.

[09/18/25 - 10:00 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" to Premiere 51st Season Oct. 4 on NBC and Peacock with Three Back-to-Back Shows
Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, and Sabrina Carpenter are among the first wave of hosts.

[09/18/25 - 10:00 AM]
CBS Studios Returns to New York Comic Con with "Star Trek" Universe Panel and New Series "NCIS: Tony & Ziva"
CBS Studios is back at New York Comic Con, offering exclusive first looks, panel discussions, screenings and unique fan experiences.

[09/18/25 - 09:30 AM]
French HBO Original Series "The Seduction" Debuts November 14
To be the hero of your own story, you sometimes have to be the villain in others'.

[09/18/25 - 09:30 AM]
Video: Starz Releases Heart-Pounding Teaser Trailer for the Final Season of "Outlander"
As the groundbreaking series prepares for its last chapter, the teaser shares a glimpse into the heart-wrenching journey that lies ahead for Claire and Jamie's enduring love story.

[09/18/25 - 09:10 AM]
CBS and Dick Clark Productions Announce New "Golden Eve" Primetime Special, Honoring Golden Globes Cecil B. DeMille and Carol Burnett Award-Recipients, Airing Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
The special will air as a marquee event during Golden Week, a new dynamic week-long experience across Paramount platforms as well as celebratory kick-off events ahead of the 83rd Annual Golden Globes, the first major awards show of the season, airing live Sunday, January 11, 2026.

[09/18/25 - 09:02 AM]
Video: "Chad Powers" - Eli Manning + Glen Powell Sneak Peek - Hulu
A sneak peek brought to you by the "Chad Powers" multiverse...