VIRTUAL:
THE REASON I JUMP
Rated
100% on Rotten Tomatoes | Winner of the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award
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 distils 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.
“It's as
emotionally piercing as it is beautiful to behold.”—Variety
“This
small film is a masterclass in communication for anyone ready to listen.”—Screen International