The Reason I Jump

The publishing phenomenon “The Reason I Jump” was written by a non-speaking autistic Japanese boy, Naoki Higashida. Translated into English by acclaimed novelist David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas), the book has become a worldwide bestseller and has been since translated into over 30 languages.

Its Q&A format gives remarkable insight into the thoughts and feelings of an autistic person who cannot talk; a Rosetta stone that allows us to hear Naoki's experiences of what it’s like to be autistic, and answering the questions that we might usually be afraid to ask: Why don’t you make eye contact? Why can’t you have a proper conversation? Why do you hit yourself? Why do you jump? Directed by Grierson award-winning filmmaker Jerry Rothwell, this feature documentary is a cinematic translation of the experiences revealed in the book that blends the insights into autism provided by Naoki’s writing, immersing us into the lives of non-speaking autistics from around the world. It dramatically gives voices to their frustrations and challenges, and also opens a window into in their unique sensory universe.