TW: Mention of bullying and suicide.
Charlotte Lewis
In a place where mental health awareness, a deeply personal story and that unique adult sibling bond intersect, that’s where you’ll find How to Build A Life, a short film by independent filmmaker Matthew Reese.
Louis Reese is a young man with complex Asperger’s, and in this moving short film, he talks candidly to his older brother, Matthew, about the bullying that almost ended his life and the sense in which he has always felt misunderstood.
“the audience observes a clear pact of trust and protection between the brothers.”
This heartfelt conversation acts as an invitation for Matthew to better understand the world through his brother’s unique lens. A familiar sibling dynamic is beautifully captured in this short film, as the audience observes a clear pact of trust and protection between the brothers.
BUILDING HIS OWN WORLD
The film’s title, How to Build a Life, is a play on words. It refers to Louis’ love of LEGO and explains how the creation of his popular YouTube stop-motion animations has helped him regain control in a world that made him feel like he had none.
“Louis inspires others to share their talents and opens a door to his innermost thoughts and feelings”
When he found himself threatened with arson by bullies in college, the ability to control the plot for his own characters, and understand their motivations, helped him derive personal meaning. Through his animations, Louis inspires others to share their talents and opens a door to his innermost thoughts and feelings, bringing to life his storytelling.
BROTHERLY BOND
Following Louis’ attempt to take his own life, his brother tries everything to better understand his experience, to try to change his world and make it easier for Louis to exist within it.
The film highlights a deeply embedded love between siblings, as the pair were so involved in each other’s lives from birth. The boys shared everything from tears and fist fights to belly laughter and excitement. To this extent, it becomes impossible to separate their memories from one another.
“Louis’ story is told with warmth, humour and empathy.”
Despite this bond, life still gets in the way, we carve our own paths and for some, brothers might feel more like familiar strangers as the years pass. Nevertheless, we would likely still defend them to the end of the earth.
Louis’ story is told with warmth, humour and empathy. He demonstrates such trust in Matthew as to allow him to share his story with strangers. The audience cannot help but be moved by their brotherly bond. Louis opens up to his brother and offers deep insight into the experience of neurodivergent people forced to navigate social institutions that often make them feel unwelcome.
The film ends on a hopeful note, with the promise that Louis has defined his own unique place in the world. And, perhaps, a place in the world for others like him too.
READ NEXT:
-
ASTEROID CITY: FILM REVIEW
-
NETFLIX’S AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER – IS LIVE-ACTION NECESSARY?
-
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE IS THE SEQUEL THE SERIES DESERVES
Image courtesy of Kushagra Kevat via Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
Charlotte Lewis
Charlotte Lewis (BSc & MSc Psychology) is a Holistic Psychology expert, founder of @MyPsychologyCoach, writer and media contributor, in-house TV wellbeing specialist and single mother. She includes mind, body & soul practices in her healing toolkit such as talk therapy, Reiki and guided meditation. Charlotte believes the best way we can nurture our mental health and emotional wellbeing is through conscious self-love and spending time holistically balancing our mind, body and soul regularly. When these elements are in balance, we can thrive. She specialises in helping women discover balance, fulfilment and self-acceptance. As a once overwhelmed and burnt-out media professional working in TV & Film, she understands what it means to feel stressed, imbalanced and overwhelmed. She uses these insights to take a holistic approach to wellbeing through combining the SCIENCE of Psychology (BSc Psychology & MSc Psychology) with the ART of Reiki and guided meditation.