At three years old, a chatty, energetic little boy named Owen Suskind ceased to speak, disappearing into autism with apparently no way out. Almost four years passed and the only stimuli that engaged Owen were Disney films. Then one day, his father donned a puppet—Iago, the wisecracking parrot from Aladdin—and asked “what’s it like to be you?” And poof! Owen replied, with dialogue from the movie. Life, Animated tells the remarkable story of how Owen found in Disney animation a pathway to language and a framework for making sense of the world.
Related Movies
You Have No Idea (2023)
One family's journey with autism through the lens of community in a small town in southern Arkansas.
How the Titanic became my lifeboat (2021)
The film is based on a true story about an Icelandic boy called Brynjar Karl. The film explores those possibilities with Brynjar and other young people who share their experiences being on the autism spectrum and how their talent elevated them.
Kin (2023)
Growing up Mell wished her autistic brother could speak - now, in adulthood, she realises you don’t have to talk to explain what you need. KIN is a coming of age story between two sisters (Mell and Janine) and their neurodivergent and autistic brother (Carl), exploring sibling relationships, family duty and care.
Inner Healing: Journey with Native Trees of Knowledge (2014)
This documentary is the story of Adrian Esposito's journey to find healing for his anger and autism by traveling across America and Canada and interviewing Native American healers and elders for their advice.
A Brief History of Circles (2024)
An experimental video essay which uses circles and waves to explore neurodivergent experience.
The Limits of My World (2019)
THE LIMITS OF MY WORLD follows a nonverbal young man’s transition from the school system into adulthood. Brian has autism and faces the daily challenges of adjusting to his new life. Filmed from the intimate perspective of his older sister Heather, this documentary seeks to understand Brian’s personality beneath his disability. THE LIMITS OF MY WORLD is an autistic coming of age story exploring what it means to be a nonverbal disabled person in today’s society.
Secret Ingredients (2018)
While the debate continues about GMOs, Roundup and other toxic pesticides, this powerful film shares remarkable stories of people who regain their health after discovering the secret ingredients in their food and making a bold commitment to avoid them.
The Horse Boy (2009)
Filmmaker Michel Orion Scott captures a magical journey into a little-known world, in a documentary which chronicles Rupert Isaacson and Kristin Neff's personal odyssey to make sense of their child's autism, and find healing for him and themselves in the unlikeliest of places.
Junha's Planet (2019)
Junha is one of the most difficult children at the school. His autism causes him to attack his classmates and even teachers without warning. Each outburst further isolates Junha from his community as his teachers and peers struggle to find a way to live "with" Junha. The camera provides an intimate look into this society, leaving the question; what is human entity and how is it connected?
Who We Are (2013)
Autism spectrum disorder (DSA) - It is not what they have, but what they are, who they are. They are Felix, Anthony, Marc and Brigitte. They are different.
This Business of Autism (2018)
This Business Of Autism is an expository documentary film about the economic and societal benefits of employing young adults with autism. The film addresses the positive impacts of developing profitable businesses while leveraging the unique capabilities of adults with autism, at the crossroads of government programs, corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurship, and family.
Las mariposas vuelan (2022)
One day we visited Mauricio, a young man who daily experiences the metamorphosis of autism.
From the Heart (NaN)
Patrícia was born with a condition that made it impossible for her to give birth, but the paths of life led her to meet Emanuel and Cléber, her children at heart.
Beautiful Young Minds (2007)
This BAFTA nominated documentary tells the story of some of the brightest mathematical brains of a generation. Each year, exceptionally gifted teenagers from over 90 countries compete for medals at the International Mathematical Olympiad. The film follows a group of brilliant teenagers as they battle it out to become the chosen six selected to represent the UK.
Autism: The Musical (2007)
Follows five autistic children as they work together to create and perform a live musical production.
Communion (2016)
When adults are ineffectual, children have to grow up quickly. Ola is 14 and she takes care of her dysfunctional father, autistic brother and a mother who lives apart from them and is mainly heard the phone. Most of all she wants to reunite a family that simply doesn’t work — like a defective TV set. She lives in the hope of bringing her mother back home. Her 13 year old brother Nikodem’s Holy Communion is a pretext for the family to meet up. Ola is entirely responsible for preparing the perfect family celebration. “Communion” reveals the beauty of the rejected, the strength of the weak and the need for change when change seems impossible. This crash course in growing up teaches us that failure is not final. Especially when love is in question.