The Power of 'Life, Animated'

Screening tonight at the Pelham Picture House, this Oscar-nominated documentary affirms a film’s ability to change lives.

Google the phrase “the power of cinema,” and you’ll be faced with a stream of think pieces discussing film’s unmatched ability to issue enlightenment for generations to come. For Owen Suskind, “the power of cinema” was not only very real but life changing, and the Oscar-nominated documentary that follows his story, screening tonight at Pelham’s Picture House Regional Film Center, manages to reverberate his unique experience. 

“All of a sudden at 3 years old, Owen vanishes,” a voice explains in the trailer to Life, Animated, the film based on the bestseller of the same name written by Suskind’s father, Pulitzer-winning journalist Ron Suskind. Suskind and his wife, Cornelia, will be in attendance for an audience-led Q&A session after the screening.

As a child with autism, Suskind developed an inability to speak with his family, until “one day,” as Ron explains in the trailer “we’re watching the Disney-animated movies, and he says he doesn’t want to grow up like Mowgli or Peter Pan.”

- Advertisement -

Owen Suskind

The film follows how that phenomenon commenced Suskind’s parents’ 20-year journey to communicating and connecting with their son by immersing themselves in Disney classics. Nominated for an Oscar in “Best Documentary Feature,” Life, Animated is evidence of the power of cinema, having helped to fuel research on the compensatory strengths of those with autism or other distinctive neurological backgrounds.

Catch the screening and subsequent Q&A tonight, hosted by Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, at 7:30 p.m.

Our Best of Westchester Elimination Ballot is open through March 13!

Unveiled: A Boutique Bridal Brunch is February 23!

Our Women in Business Awards event is November 21!

Our Best of Business event is October 30!

Our CEOs & Business Leaders Golf Outing is August 5!

Our Best of Westchester Party is July 24!

Our Westchester Home Design Awards event is June 26!

Our Wine & Food Festival returns June 4-9!

Our Wunderkinds event takes place on May 23!

Our Best of Business Ballot is open through May 15!

Our Healthcare Heroes Awards event takes place on May 9!

Our Westchester Home Builders Awards take place on April 4!

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum is March 14!

Holiday flash sale ... subscribe and save 50%

Limited time offer. New subscribers only.