Pedals, Passion, and a Story of Survival

Read Time:4 Minute, 22 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Bike Vessel
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Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2023, 2025
Runtime: 1h 32m
Director(s): Eric D. Seals
Where To Watch: premieres February 24, 2025, on Independent Lens

RAVING REVIEW: BIKE VESSEL follows a journey that isn’t just about finishing a long ride—it’s about rewriting a life story. Directed by Eric D. Seals, this documentary captures his father, Donnie Seals Sr., as he transforms from someone burdened by decades of unhealthy habits into a man determined to reclaim his health. The challenge? A 350-mile cycling trek from St. Louis to Chicago, proving that sometimes, the toughest roads lead to the most meaningful destinations.

Donnie’s journey starts long before the first pedal stroke. Years of consuming high-fat cuisine contributed to three open-heart surgeries, forcing him to reevaluate his future. Rather than accept a life tethered to medication, he finds an unlikely path forward in cycling. What begins as a small change soon becomes a passion, then a full-scale commitment. The film showcases the required endurance and explores the emotional and psychological battles of making a drastic lifestyle change.

The documentary gains extra depth when Eric joins his father for the ride. Their father-son dynamic becomes just as much a part of the story as the miles they cover. There’s no forced dramatization here—their interactions feel real, with moments of encouragement, frustration, and humor. Training sequences highlight their preparation process, capturing the doubts and growing pains of such a demanding trek across the state. The film leans into these raw, unscripted moments, making the experience feel personal rather than manufactured.

From a visual standpoint, BIKE VESSEL fully utilizes its medium. Archival home video footage is interlaced with the trip's cinematography, creating a sense of past and present colliding. The helmet-mounted cameras put the audience in action, allowing them to experience the exhaustion and exhilaration firsthand. These choices elevate the experience of the film, transforming it from a straightforward documentary into something more immersive.

BIKE VESSEL acknowledges broader systemic issues that have long affected Black communities, particularly regarding health. It briefly examines how generational dietary habits, dating back to survival strategies during slavery, have contributed to long-term health disparities. These themes add a deeper exploration I wasn’t expecting to Donnie’s story, positioning him as an individual overcoming obstacles and representing a larger key to the struggle.

Another compelling aspect of the film is its emphasis on the underrepresentation of Black cyclists. Donnie speaks to the feeling of being an outsider in cycling spaces, an experience many share beyond the world of sports. The film also touches on the tension of riding through certain small towns in Central and Southern Illinois, where the stares from locals carry an unspoken discomfort. As someone who lives in Central Illinois, I understand exactly what that means. I’ve seen the way people look at those they consider “different,” the quiet but pointed message that some places still aren’t as welcoming as they claim to be. It may be 2025, but time hasn’t moved forward in many ways. And with a president who fuels division rather than unity, that reality is only reinforced.

Audience reactions to BIKE VESSEL have been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers at the Chicago International Film Festival connecting to its themes of perseverance, change, and personal agency. It’s the kind of film that doesn’t require you to be a cyclist or even a fitness enthusiast to appreciate (although it encouraged me enough to sign up for a new gym membership.) Its message is universal: pushing forward, even when the odds seem impossible, is always worth the effort.

At its core, BIKE VESSEL is about movement—not just the physical act of cycling but the deeper, more personal journey of deciding to take control of one’s life. It’s about choosing to change, sticking with it, and discovering that the hardest part isn’t starting—believing you can finish.

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[photo courtesy of INDEPENDENT LENS, ITVS]

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