LIFE, ANIMATED Feature Documentary

Spotlight Screening

At the age of three, Owen Suskind was diagnosed on the autism spectrum and nearly four years passed without any verbal communication between him and his family. One day Owen’s father posed a question to his son using a hand puppet of the bird Iago — from the Walt Disney film ALADDIN — when something suddenly clicked. Owen responded with Iago’s dialogue from the movie and began to communicate with his family by reciting lines from his beloved Disney characters. In this joyous and uncommon coming-of-age tale, director Roger Ross Williams blends original animation with intimate footage, giving voice to Owen’s innermost thoughts and immersing the audience in his journey toward adulthood. — Sarah Bilodeau