we're joined now by the directors of the film julie cohen and betsy west.made many award-winning documentaries together, including "julia," "my name is pauli murray," and the academy award-nominated "rbg." welcome back to democracy now! what a moment to be focusing on the life of gabby giffords in the midst of this horrendous continued wave of mass shootings across the country. take us back to january 8, 2011, julie. and talk about why gabby giffords was in this parking lot and what happened next. >> yeah, this was a meet and greet with constituents. gabby was then congresswoman giffords, was very much i go out to the people, meet with constituts, herehat is on their mind. democrats and republicans were at this event to get an update for the congresswoman who at that time had just been reelected for her third term. a gunman emerged. it is a morning event. he emerged and shot gabby pretty much point-blank right in the brain and also opened fire on a crowd of people, killing six of them and injuring gabby plus 12 more. absolutely horrendous mass shooting and

. >> reporter: betsy west and julie cohen are the dynamic directing duo behind the documentary. >> allchronicling giffords' remarkable recovery after being shot in the head. and yet her unrelenting fight against gun violence showing she won't back down. >> grateful to survive. i'm alive. >> reporter: this film comes as the nation grapples with the epidemic of guns. from buffalo to uvalde to highland park. the latest mass shooting to capture the nation's attention? a mall in indiana just last night. >> in what way might your film be a call to action? >> i think people could be motivated by the film in all kinds of ways. certainly for those who are pushing for further reforms in our gun laws. also, though, the gabby giffords story is motivating in like just this deeply, deeply personal way. along with her husband, now senator mark kelly, really is a comeback story. >> hello, my fellow arizonans! >> gabby approaches her life with so much optimism and so much humor. >> reporter: she was an arizona congresswoman, a rising young star in the democratic party. >> the first amendment. congress

betsy west and julie cohen. the new cnn film "gabby giffords: won't back down," now in theaters. you so much. appreciate it. we'll be right back. oblem so lve, and fifind the answer that was right under their nose. or... his nose. when traders tell us how to make thinkorswim® even better, we listen. because platforms th innovative aren't just made for traders -they're made by them. thinkorswim® by td ameritrade some people have minor joint pain, plus high blood pressure. and since pain relievers may affect blood pressure, they can't just take anything for their pain. tylenol® is the #1 dr. recommended pain relief brand for those with high blood pressure. if you have questions on whether tylenol is right for you, talk to your doctor. [whistling] when you have technology that's easier to control... that can scale across all your clouds... we got that right? yeah, we got that. it's easier to be an innovator. so you can do more incredible things. [whistling] ♪ feel the rush of performance at the lexus golden opportunity sales event. ♪ is this where your grandparents cut a rug, with a

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. >> reporter: but film makers betsy west and julie cohen admit they were worried whether this projectany concern about her limited ability to communicate and being the subject who has to carry a documentary? >> yeah, absolutely. >> big concern. >> is gabby's story going to be too depressing? ♪ happy birthday to. >> reporter: but then we met gabby. ♪ happy birthday, dear gabby. >> this is the most extraordinarily resilient, buoyant, musical human being you could ever get to know. >> reporter: the film shows each agonizing step of gifford's recovery. >> are you frustrated? >> reporter: much of it taped by her husband, former astronaut and now arizona senator, mark kelly. what in you said we should document this? >> the reason i did it is when you have an injury like that, you are not going to remember the early days of rehab and recovery. and i wanted her to be able to, you know, see what that was like. >> the skull. >> that's not her real skull. this was your real skull, you would be in really bad shape. >> reporter: but that shows how much they took out. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> gabby, am