"Love anyone else the way you want them to love you in return. And treat people the way you'd want to be treated." - Josh Stern (extract from "Tic")
What makes a person extraordinary? Their willingness and desire to embrace and tackle challenges and societal odds in a positive way. And age truly does not matter. It is the message behind the documentary titled "@Random."
"@Random" is a powerful and unique introduction to Tourette Syndrome through 29 individual stories of struggle, courage and success. Unique because viewers will never see the same short films twice. Why? In the words of Kirk O'Brien, project chair, "By arranging the short films in a random, unpredictable order, the viewing experience is different for everyone who sees it, unpredictable and a perfect metaphor for the variability of living with Tourette."
"@Random" will leave you shaken to the core. For example, I cried watching Mandeep Sanghera ("Mandeep") struggle to accept himself and people's perceptions of him; I laughed listening to Marc Elliot's story in "What Makes You Tic?"; and I found myself drumming irresistibly along with Matt Giordano in "75 Watts". However, most importantly, all the testimonies forced me to question my own misconceptions about Tourette Syndrome, and to look beyond the surface of things.
"@Random" makes you realize two things. Firstly, that no real problem is insurmountable. Secondly, that no matter how judgmental the world may be, life is what you make of it day in day out. This beautiful lesson in humanity will stay with me for a very long time.
More about "@Random"
"@Random" was launched on May 18, 2011, by the Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada (TSFC). For two years, the foundation worked with dozens of people affected by Tourette Syndrome, filmmakers and other production industry partners to create an online documentary that changes every time you see it — a method that mimics the unpredictable nature of TS.
I recently conducted an interview with Kirk O'Brien, project chair for @Random. To read it, click here.
The documentary is available for free viewing online at www.atrandom.ca.
What is Tourette Syndrome?
Tourette Syndrome — also known as Tourette's syndrome, Tourette's or TS — is an inherited neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics and, in some cases, the exclamation of obscene words and / or inappropriate and derogatory remarks. TS affects over a million people directly or indirectly in North America.
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Cendrine Marrouat may be contacted for potential interviews, reviews and general enquiries at info@cendrinemarrouat.com
Official website: http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com
Twitter: @cendrinemedia
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