The Reason I Jump

THE REASON I JUMP (2020) is an unrated documentary and has a run time of 82 minutes. This film screened at Cinema Touching Disability Friday, October 15, 2020.

Creative Talents of People with Autism panel discussion: following THE REASON I JUMP, we screened a panel discussion with actors on a mission to shatter stereotypes about disability. Members of the ground-breaking Austin-based TILT Performance Group, all people with disabilities, talked about their own creative processes and reasons for making inclusive theater.

Synopsis

Film Poster for the reason i jump: film title and credits over an image of a young boy looking over his shoulder, hair swept back by the wind. Pastel colors suggesting a sunrise make up the background.Based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, THE REASON I JUMP is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida's revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window for audiences into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe.

Moments in the lives of each of the characters are linked by the journey of a young Japanese boy through an epic landscape; narrated passages from Naoki's writing reflect on what his autism means to him and others, how his perception of the world differs, and why he acts in the way he does: the reason he jumps.

The film distills these elements into a sensually rich tapestry that leads us to Naoki's core message: not being able to speak does not mean there is nothing to say.

Trailer

Further Reading

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The 2024 Short Film Competition is open.

Regular registration ($40) closes Apr. 5, and extended registration ($60) begins.

The final deadline is Aug. 2.

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