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Man transforms his life to become an avid cyclist in quest to reimagine Black health in “Bike Vessel” on INDEPENDENT LENS – Feb. 24 at 10 pm
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RIDES ALONG ON A FATHER AND SON’S 350-MILE CYCLING JOURNEY IN
“BIKE VESSEL”
PREMIERING FEBRUARY 24 at 10:00 PM ON PBS
After Several Health Crises, a 70-Year-Old Man Embarks on a Transformative Long-Distance Cycling Trip With His Son, Finding a Deeper Connection and a Renewed Appreciation for Their Health
Credit: Timothy M. Schmidt
A heartwarming documentary on kinship, connection, Black health, and deep familial love, “Bike Vessel,” premieres February 24, 2025, on INDEPENDENT LENS. “Bike Vessel” tells the story of a 70-year-old defying health statistics and takes a hard look at the health inequities plaguing Black men, all while showcasing a touching father- and-son, 350-mile cycling adventure as they embark on a life-changing health journey together.
The film follows director Eric D. Seals as he proposes an ambitious idea to his father: bike together from St. Louis to Chicago—350 miles in 4 days. Twenty years after Eric’s father, Donnie Seals Sr., almost died and had three open- heart surgeries, he makes a miraculous health recovery after discovering his love for bicycling, bringing his son Eric along with him. Eric, approaching the age at which his father first underwent surgery and facing similar health conditions, experiences moments of self-reflection within this period of parent-child intimacy.
Credit: Eric D. Seals
“We always intended to make ‘Bike Vessel’ an easily accessible film, and we know that bringing our story to INDEPENDENT LENS will allow us to reach our main goal for making this film—to educate the Black community on prevalent health issues,” said Eric D. Seals. “We hope that after watching the film, the community will have a greater sense of love for their bodies, love for their health, and hopefully, a new curiosity of exercise through cycling or whatever their ‘vessel’ may be.”
Donnie Seals, Sr. enjoyed southern delicacies, drinking, and smoking until 1995, when he almost died. He underwent his first open-heart surgery before age 50 and had three quadruple bypass surgeries over subsequent years, leading to his early retirement. At the age of 70, Donnie now bicycles more than 30 miles each day. “Bike Vessel” serves as a meditation on kinship and connection, centered on a father who reclaims his life against all odds. It also examines health disparities among Black men, who statistically have the lowest life expectancy and highest death rate of all racial and ethnic groups. The film sheds light on issues within American medical culture, from complex and unaffordable insurance systems to racism and discrimination in healthcare.