Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia

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Movie
Original title Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1984
length 60 minutes
Rod
Director Alexander Grasshoff
script Arthur Heinemann
Franklin Thompson
production Shirley J. Eaton
music Tony Berg
camera Gregory M. Cummins
cut Michael J. Lynch
occupation

Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia is an American family drama from 1984 directed by Alexander Grasshoff . The film shows how dyslexia can be recognized and treated.

action

Brian Ellsworth is a very intelligent boy and has great knowledge. He gets along very well with his little brother Robby. But when Brian wants to read something he always needs his help. In school, he or she participates a lot orally and trumps with his knowledge. However, as soon as he has to write something, he begins to disrupt the class. He throws books on the floor, scrawls on the blackboard, etc. Most of his teachers believe that Brian is just plain lazy and rebellious. However, there is a teacher who is particularly committed to him. She tries to understand the reasons for Brian's behavior. Brian's classmate Kim also worries about Brian and offers to give him tutoring. When it is finally recognized that Brian suffers from a reading and spelling disorder, he is finally offered the help he urgently needs.

background

Backwards: the Riddle of Dyslexia was shown as part of the TV film series Young Fates (Original: ABC Afterschool Specials). The television film aired on March 7, 1984 on ABC television. In 1989 it was released on VHS in the United States . The film was shown in US schools to educate people about dyslexia. It was intended for students in grades four through six.

The later movie star River Phoenix played one of his first leading roles in the family drama . For his brother Joaquin Phoenix was Robby Elsworth his first major film role. River Phoenix also suffered from dyslexia. However, this was not yet known when the film was being made. It wasn't until 1986, two years after the television movie was broadcast, that River was found to be dyslexic .

The film names several well-known people suffering from dyslexia , including Albert Einstein , US President Woodrow Wilson, and athlete Bruce Jenner .

reception

Awards

This film has been nominated several times for various television awards. Cast, River and Joaquin Phoenix , each received a Young Artist Award nomination in 1985 for best young actor in a television movie. It was also Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia nominated for the best family TV movie. Michael J. Lynch won the Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding work as a film editor. Even Gregory M. Cummins (Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography), and the writers Franklin Thompson and Arthur Heinemann (Outstanding Writing in a Children's Special) received a nomination for the Daytime Emmy Award.

Reviews

Some psychologists criticize the film for endorsing the now outdated view that the central feature of dyslexia is flipping or swapping letters. It is good that the film shows that dyslexia is not an indicator of weak mental abilities, but that highly intelligent people also suffer from dyslexia.

The US Magazine describes the drama as slight, but praises River Phoenix's performance as sensitive and uncompromisingly genuine.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984) . Moviemeter.nl. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ Vincent Terrace (2011): Television Specials: 5,336 Entertainment Programs, 1936-2012, 2d ed. Jefferson: Shutterstock. P. 3
  3. ^ Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia . Tv.com. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  4. ^ Backwards: the riddle of dyslexia. . worldcat.org. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ Barry C. Lawrence (2004): River Widens In: In search of River Phoenix, the truth behind the myth. Penngrove: Wordsworth. P.70
  6. ^ Susan T. Dennison (2011): Twelve Counseling Programs for Children at Risk. Springfield: Thomas Books. P.3
  7. ↑ Rovi: Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984) . Nytimes.com. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  8. ↑ Kim Linekin: He ain't heavy, he's my co-star: Brothers on film. River and Joaquin Phoenix - “ABC Afterschool Specials - Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia” (1984) . Entertainment.ca.msn.com. December 3, 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  9. ^ Famous Dyslexics . The British Dyslexia Association. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  10. ^ Geoffrey Macnab: River Phoenix: the last film . Theguardian.com. September 27, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  11. ^ Kelli Kennedy: River Phoenix's last film premieres in Miami . bigstory.ap.org. March 8, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  12. ↑ John L. Baker (1998): Running on Empty. The Life and Career of River Phoenix. Fulton: Phoenix Literary Productions. Pp. 55-56
  13. ^ Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia . River-phoenix.org. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ 6th Youth In Film Awards . In: YoungArtistAwards.org . Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ ABC Afterschool Specials (1972–1997). Awards . Imdb.com. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  16. ↑ Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks. Myth 18: The defining feature of dislexia is reversing letters. In: Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn, John Ruscio, Barry L. Beyerstein (2009): 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: Shattering Widespread Misconceptions about Human Behavior. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.
  17. ^ Blake (2013): Children with Disabilities - Dispelling Myths About Dyslexia. In: Lexington Family, August 2013, p. 33.
  18. ^ Roberta and David Ritz (1995): Strange Days. In: US Magazine , October 1995.