Jack Of The Red Hearts is the moving portrait of a family impacted by autism who's whole world is turned upside down by the introduction of a wild outsider. Writer Jennifer Deaton talked with SeligFilmNews about her connection to someone who is Autistic, the incredible female lead team that made this movie possible and about what she hopes people gain from a movie about the wide(n) Autism spectrum.
February 15th, 1932 Annie Sullivan addressed a group of Temple University students and faculty about her connection to Autism. Here is a snippet from the speech that I think showcases the wide power education can have on the Autistic community.
"Certain periods in history suddenly lift humanity to an observation point where a clear light falls upon a world previously dark. Everything seems strangely different. Familiar ideas put on new garments and parade before us. Scholars and thinkers scrutinize events with a new intensity to learn their meaning, and the people look for a sign, a miracle."
Jennifer Deaton's script utilizes the Annie Sullivan mentoring Helen Keller as it's structural influence while creating a fictional tale of an orphan outsiders impact on a family dealing with the Autism spectrum.
Official Synopsis of Jack Of The Red Hearts, from the film's website.
A streetwise teen, and casualty of the flawed foster care system, cons her way into a job by posing as an experienced caregiver for a family with an autistic child. At first in over her head, she ends up connecting with her new life in a way she never expected. Just as she’s found redemption, her deceitful past catches up with her and she’s forced to come to terms with who she really is.
Jennifer and I started our chat by discussing the origin behind the story.
One intriguing element in the film is how the movie looks at how wide the Autism spectrum is and how narrow it truly may actually be.
Director Janet Grillo, Cinematographer Hillary Spera and Visual Effects artist Michael Glen have created a beautiful visualization of Jennifer's idea of how Autism appears to those in the spectrum. The film utilizes beautiful POV shots that have a sparkle type effect on them that really capture the aura of the character of Glory (brilliant performance from Taylor Richardson!). Jennifer discussed this bold visual choice by the film team to highlight Glory's "view" of the world around her.
Jennifer talked about how reactions to the film so far have been incredibly moving.
I asked Jennifer about the film having such a strong female presence, and how that reflects the strong female connection to Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller.
Jennifer talked about the amazing casting choice of AnnaSophia Robb as Jacquelyn, the wild orphan outsider that has the "Annie Sullivan" style touch on family in the film.
And Jennifer ended our wonderful chat by explaining what she hopes audiences gain from seeing Jack of the Red Hearts.
The film is out now in select theaters and on VOD soon!
In Annie Sullivan's closing of her speech at Temple University in 1932 she sums up the importance of education.
"Only when we have worked purposefully and long on a problem that interests us, and in hope and in despair wrestled with it in silence and alone relying on our own unshaken will—only then have we achieved education."
For more information on Jack of the Red Hearts please visit their website and for the latest updates go to their Facebook page.
