Our Developmental Disorder

What Can You Do About It?

Former Title: Our developmental disorder

Director: Yoshifumi TSUBOTA
Cast: Makoto OHARA / Yoshifumi TSUBOTA

Genre: Documentary

Theatrical Release in Japan: November 2019

[Festival Records]

Official Selection: Busan International Film Festival 2019

[2019 / Color / HD / Stereo / 119 min. / Japanese with English subtitles]

[Synopsis]

Film director Yoshifumi Tsubota has just been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 41, when he learns that an uncle of his also has a developmental disorder called PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder).

Tsubota impulsively grabs a camera and goes to meet him. Through their time together, Tsubota comes face to face with the various social challenges that face his uncle - a single man in his sixties with special needs, living all alone.

[Director's Statement]

These past three years have gone by so quickly. From the moment I first met Makoto-san,I was instantly drawn to his pureness and his distinct, innocent way of seeing the world.

I was overcome with an irressistable urge to start filming. At the time, I had just been diagnosed with ADHD and was depressed and unable to sleep. Overall a complete mess. But when I went to visit Makoto-san, he would smile, call me Yoshifumi-san and welcome me into his house with an open heart.

When I left, he would always walk me to the door and reach out to shake my hand as we said our goodbyes. This film could not exist without Makoto-san. My visits with him will continue.