Cinema Touching Disability 2021

The Reason I Jump (Friday)

Expired October 16, 2021 1:45 AM
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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.

  • Year
    2020
  • Runtime
    90 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Director
    Jerry Rothwell
  • Screenwriter
    Naoki Higashida
  • Producer
    Paul Allen
  • Executive Producer
    Jody Allen
  • Co-Producer
    Lizzie Francke
  • Cinematographer
    Ruben Woodin Dechamps