In 'Stronger,' Jake Gyllenhaal Takes On The Pain, 'Joy And Hope' Of A Marathon Survival Story

In the days, weeks and months after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, a 27-year-old man who lost his legs in the attack became the public face of the city’s resilience — the face of “Boston Strong.”

Jeff Bauman wrote about his experiences in the 2014 book “Stronger,” and this week a film based on the book, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Bauman, is opening. Here & Now‘s Robin Young speaks with Gyllenhaal and Bauman (@Jeffmbauman) about the film.

Interview Highlights

Gyllenhaal, on how he wanted to approach portraying Bauman

Jake Gyllenhaal: “I mean, obviously I think it’s important when you initially from afar see the photograph, you’re struck by the event, and it was moving and angering and all of those things. But I think what a movie can do is get into the specifics of who a human being). So I think that idea was essential in this movie, and I think getting the experience right, as well as the joy and hope.”