Released in 2021

The Reason I Jump 

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Based on the book of the same name, written by 13 year old autistic Naoki Higashida, ‘The Reason I jump’, is a highly original look at autism expressed in a unique way.  Part ‘window on a world’ journal, part documentary, the film is made by highly acclaimed documentary maker, Jerry Rothwell, who has faithfully turned the book into something highly original.

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Rothwell, along with experienced producer Jeremy Dear, has created a film that almost turns conventional ideas of film making inside out to express what it must be like to ‘see’ and ‘hear’ the world through an altered perspective. There is a sense that the audience is being thrown, like Alice in Wonderland, down the rabbit hole, in an attempt to truly describe and convey what it must be like to be autistic.

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With beautiful, thoughtful photography by Ruben Woodin Dechamps, (who has been nominated twice for his work on this film) ‘The Reason I Jump,’ is a film to immerse yourself into, and let wash over you. The stories of each of the subjects are presented in a way that startles yet builds a bridge between anyone who thinks ‘normally’ and who has autism.

 

A wonderful way to learn about autism, and how it affects the lives of those who have it, ‘The Reason I Jump,’ is also a very clear look at what it means to be different, and that these differences can and should be celebrated as part of the evolution of the human race.

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With more and more children being recognized as being autistic, ‘on the spectrum’ has become a commonplace term. The more it is studied, the more it becomes apparent that those with autism often have a unique perspective to bring us all, and gifts which when expressed are incredibly useful to this world. Most of us know an obsessive, but useful friend who can remember birthdays and lists of information far better than we can, or the ordered person whose home is always spotless, and therefore calm to be in; but what about the creatives who use technology far easier than we do to create masterpieces we love? Or the accountants with brains like computers who save us money and time.

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Autism is very useful to society, and the more films and knowledge there is on the subject, the better we can understand just how everyone has something great to offer the world.

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