Screen Daily

“Jerry Rothwell’s groundbreaking documentary
tunes into the autistic spectrum.”

“The Reason I Jump will change how you think.”

“This exquisite documentary is required viewing for anyone whose life has been touched by autism, and that’s almost everyone.”

“Enormously affecting”

“Perceptions may shift and lives can improve, because this small film is a masterclass in communication for anyone ready to listen.”

“Rothwell’s film opens up autism like a flower.”

“All aspects of this film deserve praise, each department wrapping itself around the considerable challenges of bringing such a complex adaptation to the screen.”

The Hollywood Reporter

“The bottom line: Beyond words.”

“Rothwell, the film’s producers, and all their collaborators have found such an elegant, luminous way to pay tribute to the book.”

“A work of cinematic alchemy.”

“It’s a work that enlightens and informs but that is also
ravishing to behold.”

“This is a wondrous work, one that captures, as far as I can tell as a neurotypical person, a lot of what it’s like to live with the condition. But as the parent of a child with autism, one who struggles with sensory overload, I can’t help wondering what he will make of it. He’ll probably complain that there aren’t enough cats in it — but I think he’ll also appreciate the effort to show how people like him see the world, in their own words.”

The Film

Based on the best-selling book written by a 13-year-old Japanese teenager, THE REASON I JUMP is an immersive film exploring 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 into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe. It features state-of-the-art 360 Atmos sound for a heightened sensory experience.

This is Jerry Rothwell’s return to Sundance after premiering his award-winning feature documentary HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD in 2015.

For more, visit the film’s page.