[yasr_overall_rating]
A coming of age story about a boy and his family who overcame great challenges by turning Disney animated movies into a language to express love, loss, kinship and brotherhood.
As families are impacted more and more by autism, this film becomes very relevant to the foundation of communication that is sought after by many who share common ground in the quest to understand and make sense of the world that many autistic children live in. Director and Producer Roger Ross Williams gives us ninety-one minutes of infotainment that captures the joy and pain of all who are impacted by the life-changing elements of this condition that redefines in stages our preconceived notions of what communication should or should not be.
The film begins in a classroom setting in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where Owen Suskind’s life is carried out in phases amongst a group of peers who share his condition. At 19 years of age, he has become a mature adult who leads his peers in discussions after having learned to verbally express an array of emotions that can be directly tied to Disney characters. Owen and his entire class are on the verge of graduation and Owen’s family is dealing with the impending transition into his own apartment seventy-five miles away from his family. Every aspect of Owen’s transition is discussed in an open forum with his parents Ron and Cornelia, his brother, Walt and counselors who have had massive input in his day-to-day living since he was a very young child. The film then reverts to the childhood of a young and active Owen who had no issues until suddenly at the age of three when he began a physical, verbal and emotional descent that eventually resulted in a withdrawn child whose motor skills began deteriorating while his speech became jibberish, and then becoming totally nonverbal. After several doctor’s visits, Owen was diagnosed with the pervasive development disorder referred to as Autism.
As years went by, Owen’s parents struggled to understand how to come to terms with a fate that kept them from communicating with him. Watching Disney movies together, which was something the family had always enjoyed, took on a new meaning when it was discovered that Owen began communicating with a stored memory of every Disney movie he had ever watched. Each situation in his life was transformed in full character as he voiced his emotions in response to life situations that he endured. This was truly a breaking point for the entire family as they capitalized on this discovery that became the lifeblood of their existence. Owen once again began to flourish and his life’s learning was built on the foundation of Disney characterization. Owen faced a major setback after he had transitioned into his new apartment and his girlfriend Emily, who had become a staple in his life, broke up with him. The family once again used the entire Disney platform to redirect Owen’s emotions so that he could get back on track with his day to day living.
There are pleasant surprises, setbacks and humorous situations in this film that make this documentary well worth the price of admission. Director Roger Ross Williams should be proud of the way in which this family’s personal situation helps to bring the world to a greater understanding and appreciation of the world of Autism, and the world of Disney as it opens up an entire new chapter in keeping open the lines of communication and merging breakthroughs through voices that are heard and understood through the silence that surrounds them.
In select theaters now
