299. The Reason I Jump; movie review

 

THE REASON I JUMP

Cert 12A
82 mins

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language

"My mind is forever swaying this way and that. I am never at ease wherever I am."

The Reason I Jump, It is based on the bestseller by Naoki Higashida, written when he was just 13. offers an insight into the autism spectrum.

It explores the experiences of young people and their parents from different parts of the world.

There are common threads such as the frustration of autistic people which often manifests itself as tantrums.

This becomes more understandable when reading and writing aids help them explain their feelings for the very first time.

This was one of the most astounding moments in any film we have seen this year.

It is as if a veil has been lifted for these poor people who have previously been unable to communicate and have, therefore, been presumed to have low mental faculties.

Instead, it transpires that they have been trapped - unable to say what they are thinking.

I could write of the horror stories of parents we know with children on the autism spectrum over the past 30 years..

Thankfully, nowadays there is much greater understanding in the West but the film also shows how people with autism find life much harder in the developed world.

It alights upon a family in Sierra Leone who have gathered other parents together to shine a light upon their plight.

This is a memorable and revealing film which demonstrates how differently the mind can work.

My mind was blown by knowing that some autistic people cannot grasp daily events such as rain.

Indeed, they have to remember the context of it and where and when it last entered their lives before realising what it is.

This demonstrates just how differently the mind can be wired. Seeing Jerry Rothwell's film offers a significant step to greater understanding.

It is a must-see documentary.

Reasons to watch: Powerful insight into autism

Reasons to avoid: Upsetting scenes

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know? Autism spectrum disorder now affects 1 in 68 children. Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ASD.

The final word. Jerry Rothwell: "What we set out to do is to let Naoki's text act as a prompt for us to think about certain things and to immerse the audience in peoples’ worlds, much in the same way that the book immerses us in Naoki’s world. " Radical Art Review

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