Jack’s younger brother, Gio, has Down syndrome. When they were little, Jack interpreted his parents’ explanation of Gio being “special” to mean he must have superpowers. As they grow older, teenage Jack grows increasingly self-conscious and struggles to redefine himself apart from his ebullient family.
Ready to turn a new page, Jack and his best friend leave their small town in Northern Italy to bus to a big city high school donning reinvented, cool identities. At his new school, Jack decides it might be easier to pretend Gio doesn’t exist. But when he joins a teen band to impress his first crush Arianna, Jack is quickly in over his head as his new friends intersect with his real life. When the truth comes out, Jack must face the harm that he’s done and rediscover how his brother’s energy, vivacity, and unique perspective can indeed change the world. Based on Giacomo Mazzariol’s YA novel and the true life story. Winner, Young Audience Award, European Film Academy. (Deb Girdwood)
Content advisories: teen drinking and smoking, some mature language
Recommended for ages 12+
Director Biography
Born in 1986 in Salò, Italy, Stefano Cipani attended the New York Film Academy at Universal Studios. His short films have garnered worldwide attention: “A Pill for David Friktenstein” (2009), “Napoleon’s Charm” (2009), “A Piece of Hero” (2009), “While God is Watching Us” (2011), “Symmetry” (2013), “Shine Bright” (2016) and “La Grande Guerra a Colori” (2020). My Brother Chases Dinosaurs (Mio fratello rincorre i dinosauri) (2020) is his debut feature.
Sponsors
