GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Rated: PG
A documentary by: Roger Ross Williams
Editor: David Teague
Cinematographer: Tom Bergmann
Composer: Dylan Stark, T. Griffin
Original Animation: Mac Guff
Based on a book by: Ron Suskind
Starring: The Suskind Family: Owen, Cornelia, Walter and Ron.
LIFE, ANIMATED is a documentary based on a book written by Ron Suskind, father of Owen who at age 3 was diagnosed with autism.
This is a story about Owen’s journey from childhood, to his devastating withdrawal at age 3, to his diagnosis of the pervasive developmental disorder of autism, through to miraculously living on his own in assisted residential care. All due to the Suskind family’s persistence and recognition of Owen’s ability to communicate through his understanding of the exaggerated emotional cues shown in Disney films.
Owen’s father, Ron, has used his journalistic skill in portraying the difficulties of autism: the constant overstimulation (due to lack of filtering of the external environment), the loss of understanding of words and the determination to release him from his autism prison.
I can understand how this documentary, directed and produced by Roger Ross Williams (Music by Prudence; God Loves Uganda), has won so many audience awards: Telluride Mountainfilm Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival, Full Frame Film Festival and the list goes on…
Not only is LIFE, ANIMATED a remarkable insight into autism, I found myself constantly smiling.
The Suskinds are just such a loving, supportive family, that every triumph is experienced right there with them. And Owen himself is a genuinely lovely guy. It’s such a pleasure to see him open up and become a young man.
Yes, there are difficulties, and I shed a few tears through-out the film, because that’s life.
I could relate to Owen’s difficulties, the falls we all take. And I could admire his tenacity to keep getting up and keep fighting the good fight, from losing of his voice and to then finding it again.
This is a heart-felt story that is shown so well by the directing. And the soundtrack is perfect: there to amplify the moments without becoming intrusive.
What amazed me the most was the original animation created by Mac Guff to depict Owen’s own imagined stories.
I could sense the amount of time and care put into this film and I have to say, it has really paid off. The film is a seamless journey, shown with emotion that is real and made relatable to everyone.
I laughed, I cried, I smiled and I learnt something not only about Owen and his battle with autism, I also found an opportunity to reflect on my own life journey.