PELHAM, NY — On Monday, February 13th at 7:30 p.m. The Picture House Regional Film Center (TPH) in partnership with Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health will host a special screening of the new Academy Award nominated documentary Life, Animated followed by a Q&A with Ron, Cornelia, and Owen Suskind, the family featured in the film.
From Academy Award winning director Roger Ross Williams, Life, Animated is the inspirational story of Owen Suskind, a young man with autism who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discovered a unique way to communicate by immersing themselves in the world of classic Disney animated films. This emotional coming-of-age story follows Owen as he graduates to adulthood and takes his first steps toward independence. The subject of his father Ron Suskind’s New York Times bestseller, Owen was a thriving three year old who suddenly and inexplicably went silent – and for years after remained unable to connect with other people or to convey his thoughts, feelings or desires. Over time, through repeated viewings of Disney classics like The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, Owen found useful tools to help him to understand complex social cues and to re-connect with the world around him. Life, Animated has made the Oscar nomination shortlist.
After the film, TPH critic-in-residence Marshall Fine will moderate a discussion and Q&A with Ron, Cornelia, and Owen Suskind. Ron Suskind is a Pulitzer-winning journalist, bestselling author and the founder of Sidekicks. Ron’s bestseller, Life, Animated (2014), has driven activism and research about the compensatory strengths of those with autism and others who are “differently-abled” due to distinctive neurology or sociocultural backgrounds.
This event supports a key part of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health’s mission to eradicate negative stigma, through education and advocacy to support the ultimate goal of unlocking and nurturing human potential for people living with emotional, behavioral or cognitive differences.
Tickets to the special screening and discussion are $15/general admission, $12/students, seniors, and members and are available at www.thepicturehouse.org or at the box office, 175 Wolfs Lane, Pelham, NY 10803.