Life, Animated is a documentary film based on Ron Suskind’s New York Times bestseller that tells the story of his son Owen and his parents’ perseverance in finding a way to communicate. At the age of three, Owen was diagnosed with autism and stopped speaking until he started watching The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and other classic Disney films. He and his parents took on the roles of the characters and he lived by the morals of the stories.

The movie will show Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 18, 19 and 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Film Center in Vineyard Haven. Mr. Suskind, his sons Owen and Walt, and the director Roger Ross Williams will also be in attendance and participate in discussions after the film.

On Monday, August 22, at 8 p.m. it will screen outdoors at the Beach Plum Inn as part of the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival. The family and director will also be in attendance.

Mr. Williams has been a friend of the family for 15 years. He worked as a journalist with Mr. Suskind at ABC News when Mr. Suskind’s book was published. The two decided that it would make a great documentary. Mr. Williams said that the film was one of the most challenging to make, but also one of the most rewarding.

“I had to overcome certain challenges,” he said. “I had to bring audiences to his reality, then I had audiences saying that they understood autism for the first time. People connect to the film.”

Mr. Williams said Owen answers questions openly, as he has since the beginning of the filmmaking process.

“He wanted people to know who he is,” he said.