A Mile in His Shoes

Director: William Dear

Writers: Jason Koornick & Frank Nappi

Production: NGN Productions, Nasser Group, North & MIHS Films

Year: 2011

Annotation:

This film is based on the novel The Legend of Micky Tusslerby Frank Nappi. Baseball is an American favourite sporting event. The sports, drama & family film tell a story of Mickey’s amazing pitching skill throwing apples straight to the bullseyes that captures the baseball manager’s eye on his impressive skill. He is 18 and has Asperger’s syndrome who joins a minor-league baseball team. Micky’s condition makes him feel alienated from others and feels challenged with focusing on the sport and his own self. Furthermore, his teammates and people around him constantly makes fun of and teases him, which makes him feel put down. The story shows inclusion of diverse abilities and by giving Micky a chance to play and be treated with respect.

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The way it hurts

Author:            Patty Blount

Publisher:        Napperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks Fire, 2017

Annotation:

Music is everything for guitarist Elijah’s life, which tells a realistic story about his rock band playing that he can do anything to be successful and get a big break. He cares for his sister Anna, who has autism, that he prioritises. Elijah meets actress Kristen at a high school musical production of Cats and he could not get his eyes off her. He invited her to lead sing with the band, as it would make the band more famous for fans. However, social media response turned negative with physical threats and cyberbullying which impacted on Kristen. Not only it impacts on her, but the fan behaviour does impact on Anna too which Elijah wakes up to this. The storyline is character-driven with the tone of high-drama.

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The Black Balloon

Director: Elissa Down

Writers: Elissa Down & Jimmy Jack

Production: Australian Film Commission, The Australian Film Finance Corporation, Black Balloon Productions, Icon Entertainment International & The New South Wales Film and Television Office

Year: 2008

Annotation:

The film is an Australian comedy-drama romance on a family moved and settled in to New South Wales. The protagonist is Thomas, who is turning sixteen, lives with his autistic brother Charlie. Thomas wants to have a normal adolescence, but his brother is always in his way and takes every opportunity. The storyline portrays of the whole family dealing and coping with Charlie’s behaviour day by day. The care, love and support of Charlie is strong, though there are ups and downs moments. For Thomas, he feels isolated and embarrassed wishing that Charlie can be normal. Thomas find romance with Jackie which changes the situation where Charlie presents problems when she is around. Jackie understands and empathise of Thomas’s situation and circumstances. The feel and tone of the film is heart-warming, difficult and confronting.

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Movie Trailer

Sorta like a rockstar

Author: Matthew Quick

Publisher: London: Headline, 2013

Annotation:

Having good faith and hope is what everyone would like to have and achieve in their life. For Amber Appleton, a seventeen-year-old girl with autism, she proclaims as “an inspiration, a rockstar - of hope”. She is homeless and lives in a school bus with her alcoholic and unfit mother - difficult circumstances and hardship. She has a best friend who is a loyal rescue dog name Bobby Big Boy - 100% cute. Amber’s optimism is described throughout the story; regularly teaches English to Korean Catholic women through music, visits elderly at nursing home and befriends a solitary Vietnam veteran. When a tragedy hits, Amber falls into depression where is unable to cope, feels blank and things are harder than thought possible.

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