Because We Have Each Other (ATOM Study Guide)

An intimate documentary five years in the making, Because We Have Each Other chronicles the life of Janet and Buddha and their five adult children. They’re a neurodiverse family on the working-class fringe. With too many pets and a whole lot of bills to pay, they’re dreaming of bigger futures in a society that refuses to see them. Life has been hard, and blended families can be messy. But amidst the chaos, their love is as real as it is unconventional. At times deeply funny, this wondrous film examines the hopes and heartbreaks of one family as they invite us into their extraordinary home.

Curriculum Links:

Because We Have Each Other presents an opportunity to explore themes such as neurodiversity, family, love, mental health and social class. It can be used as a springboard for discussion about social norms and expectations, our own and other’s perceptions and responses to disability, blended families, and material wealth.

The film will have particular interest and relevance for senior secondary and tertiary students in the following curriculum areas:

• English
• Media Studies
• Psychology
• Community services and health
• Health and human development