BRAIN JOURNEYS (2018)

37 min.
United Kingdom
English Language

Rating: 12

Written and directed by Charlotte Hickford Hendy

Brain Journeys follows performance poet Anthony Fairweather as he retraces his steps visiting locations in the UK which have significance to him and his life. After being diagnosed with Asperger's in his own words:

A nervous breakdown led me into the world of poetry. First of all it was a way of coping with life, and later as a way to live. Along the way I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (as a result of showing my poems to a psychiatrist) and have ended up discovering a life I would never have had the chance to enjoy, were it not for the breakdown. I do have a stammer, but this hasn't doesn't and never will stop me from performing. Performing has taught me how to adapt and to cope. I did my first gig in August 2006 in Birmingham - for 8 minutes. 12 years later and I am still going strong. I have performed at hundreds of gigs (not as many as Queen Mab, but I will catch her one day...maybe!) been published by Chipmunkapublishing, won a fair few slams, and produced a play. Not to mention the semi-autobiographical film I've just written, Frosted Glass.

The film touches upon his childhood, problems he experienced before his late diagnosis at 23, and his use of comedy to overcome this issues and use them as a source for his witting and acerbic poetry which has been widely published. Brain Journeys also includes several live performances.

The film also more broadly explores the effects of living with undiagnosed Asperger's, and the positive effects of diagnosis and finally support.

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