Watch Far From The Tree

Far From The Tree is a documentary film directed by Rachel Dretzin and based on Andrew Solomon's bestselling book of the same name. The film explores the experiences of families living with children who are different from them in a significant way, whether through being deaf, autistic, or having dwarfism as some examples. Solomon has traveled the world for over a decade, interviewing hundreds of parents and children to write his seminal book. Dretzin translates the essence of Solomon's work through the film's intimate approach, as we meet and get to know the subjects of the book in person.

The film begins with a young couple, Jack and Amy Allnutt, who have a son named Jack who has Down syndrome. Through their story, the film highlights the challenges and joys of raising a child with a disability, including the impact it has on family dynamics, relationships, and identity. We see how the Allnutts must navigate a world that isn't always welcoming to their son, and how they must come to terms with their own fears and doubts about their ability to be good parents. Through it all, they find that raising Jack has given them a sense of purpose and meaning they never knew existed.

The film also features the story of Jason and Emily Kingsley, parents to a son with autism. Jason is a famous video game designer who turns to his work as a coping mechanism, while Emily writes about their struggles on her blog. We see how their relationship changes over time, as they come to terms with the fact that their dreams for their son might not be realized. We also meet Loini Vivao, a single mother raising a deaf son who is fiercely proud of his identity. Loini teaches her son Aiden to embrace who he is and recognize that he is not defined by his deafness.

The film explores themes of identity, acceptance, and difference, as it tells the stories of families who are often misunderstood and marginalized in society. We see how the families come to terms with and celebrate their children's differences, making their own communities of support among those facing similar challenges. Far From The Tree also features interviews with experts in the fields of psychology, sociology, and genetics, who examine the science behind these uncommon differences and the ways in which they challenge our ideas about what it means to be "normal."

The film emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding for those who are different from the norm. It also highlights the beauty of diversity and the unique contributions that people with rare challenges can make to society. We see children like Leah Smith, a young girl with dwarfism who becomes a famous musician, and Trevor Pearce, a man with Down syndrome who works at a law firm and advocates for disability rights. These individuals are not defined by their differences but are instead celebrated for their resilience and creativity.

Far From The Tree is a moving and thought-provoking exploration of the human spirit and the importance of embracing difference. It reminds us that there is no one path to success or happiness, and that diversity is what makes us stronger as a society. The film invites us to consider our own biases and preconceptions and to cultivate a greater sense of empathy and compassion for those who are different from us. Through the stories of the families we meet, we see how adversity can be transformed into resilience and how love and acceptance can triumph over fear and doubt.

Far From The Tree is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7 and a MetaScore of 70.