Life Animated
by Rose Finlay

Roger Ross Williams,  USA/France

Owen  Suskind was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and his parents and  doctors feared that he would be forever set apart from the world. After some  time of not making much progress, his parents found out that Owen was able to  communicate by mimicking the words of various Disney characters from animated  films. From there they were able to help him build his communication to the  point where he was able to finish high school and move out of the house into an  assisted living facility. This moving documentary follows Owen as he finished  up school and moves on to become an independent adult, something which his  parents had worried he would never be able to accomplish until Disney helped  them find a way. LIFE ANIMATED is an  engrossing look at autism and the power of art to help those who struggle to  connect with the world.