Austin, autistic and with fragile bones for a rare disease: « I’ll tell you the crystal child »
Since yesterday in Italian cinemas, Jon Gunn’s « Crystal Child » is inspired by a story that really happened. Interview with the American actor famous for « Shazam! » who plays Scott, the father of the protagonist
Austin is a autistic child affected by birth by a rare form of imperfect osteogenousalso called «fragile bones disease « . A condition that requires the child to constantly live under stress for fear that his skeleton may break.
Despite the numerous fractures and surgical interventions to which he is subjected, the little Austin never loses hope, on the contrary, becomes a source of inspiration for his whole family, very worried about his serious health conditions. Tea Unbreakable Boy («The crystal child « ) is the last film directed by Jon Gunn, produced by Lionsgate and distributed by Notorious Pictures, released yesterday in Italian cinemas. The protagonist The little Alvin, played by Jacob Lavaland his family, with Zachary Levi In the role of Scott Lerette, the father, e Meghann Fahy who impersonates his mother Teresa.
Alvin is one in four billion people: unique not only for his pathology but for the spirit with which he faces the difficult everyday life, giving smiles and joy despite the complicated condition. Inspired by a true story, « Tea Unbreakable Boy « It does not tell the story of a « fragile child », on the contrary it is an incredible hymn to life and hope. An indestructible and surprisingly contagious spirit for those who are by his side is what Austin manages to convey to his family, in particular to his father Scott. It will be thanks to the values learned from the son if he manages to find a way out of his health care in the balance. The disease, bullying, alcoholism, the strength to be reborn, the spirit of sacrifice, constancy and determination are some of the topics covered in the Gunn film that invites us to reflect on how the strength of feelings, union and sharing can give a new meaning even to the most difficult challenges.
« That little one is indestructible, cheerful even in front of the bullies »
Zachary, the film is titled The Unbreakable Boy. What is the meaning it gave at the end « indestructible »?
«With reference to Austin, the main character of the film, his incredible willpower and his always cheerful and combative spirit are indestructible. Here, these characteristics in Austin never break. It doesn’t matter what he is going through, he doesn’t matter his diagnosis, he doesn’t matter his autism, he doesn’t matter how much other children can bully or make fun of him: he always remains an indestructible boy. I think this attitude in the face of life is something truly powerful, both to know and to learn. The character I play, Scott, is someone who is looking for a balance between being a father and being husband and tries to do his best but, at the same time, he is also fighting against his demons. « Indestructible » therefore becomes Scott thanks to the teachings that his son conveys him daily « .
During an interview he said: « I would like to be an indestructible boy. » What is the feature you miss to become so?
«Well, life is difficult and there are so many things that can get down and condition us in our choices, putting ourselves in a bad mood, making us feel misunderstood, disillusioned and angry with the world – all sensations that I felt on my skin. I believe, however, that love, for themselves and for others it represents the turning point. I also lived in the darkness: during my life I crossed very high moments, others very low, both from a mental and emotional point of view. I think anything that happens, we must remain focused on being better every day than yesterday and not letting what surrounds us takes us down, which is also the most important message that emerges from the film ».
« Our world is not inclusive, everyone thinks only about being cool »
In your opinion, is our society really inclusive today? If not, what are we missing?
«We live in a world that, unfortunately, runs around being coolbut what does it really mean to be cool? I perceive this conception as a cancer, which pervades our soul. And I think it is us to self -nominate that conforming to what popular culture, at a given moment, considers acceptable, is synonymous with « authenticity ». In reality, for me « authenticity » means remaining faithful to oneself. I believe that in this precise historical moment we are faced with particularly complicated challenges: this is only one of those. And I think that, instead of pushing us to the constant search for “how to really be cool« We have to focus on the uniqueness of each of us, recognizing that no one is perfect but that this is precisely it is to make us unique. And it should not be afforded to the company to support the opposite ».
Speaking of his career, what is the character who liked him to play the most?
«I don’t know, I was very lucky to have been able to play many characters who interested me. The two funniest I think they were Chuck Bartowski, in the television series Chuckbut also Shazam in Shazam! And Shazam! Fury of the gods. While in The Unbreakable Boy It was very fun to play as a child who impersonates a sort of « adult superhero »: one of my favorite roles perhaps because the most human, what more than others lives on continuous and low, like real people. I consider myself very happy and proud of this performance ».
« I love to make movies like this, who enter the deep people »
Was it difficult for her to impersonate such disparate characters: from cartoons to Shazam to Scott in the latter film?
“No, I’ve never found it too difficult. I have played for most of my life and I was very lucky to have the opportunity to interpret many different roles, from animation to live action. I think it’s part of the beauty of doing this job: constantly enlarge your boundaries, go further, test yourself. I have always caught it as a pleasant personal challenge ».
What is your dream today in the drawer?
«More than anything else I want to continue doing films and television projects that launch important messages to those who watch them while, sometimes, make people laugh but do not go beyond that. Films like « The Unbreakable Boy« I think they resonate people in a much deeper level in the minds, as something to be able to identify. I saw spectators moving even just looking at the trailer of the film … In short, I think it is a very powerful project to interior this type of stories, which I want to carry on, both in cinema and on television ».
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