Down in Number 5
18 min / narrative / 2009 / USA
filmmaker: Kim Spurlock
Retired coal miner Carl Short, 65, lives with his 40-year old, son Sammy, who has Down syndrome. Carl suffers from black lung. When money from a class action lawsuit fails to materialize, Carl realizes his options are running out.
Who will take care of Sammy when he is gone? He turns to Raymond Atkins, Sammy’s childhood friend and protector. But Raymond is now a middle-aged, single father overwhelmed by his own problems. Rooted in the Southern Gothic storytelling tradition, “Down in Number 5” is a tender portrait of a man pushed to his limits for the love of his son and a haunting rumination on family and community in Appalachia. Based on a true story.
Related Videos
A look into the lives of three young men on the autism spectrum. This film explores how all three men and their families have found meaning and purpose through running.
Samson works in his father’s martial arts dojo, dreaming of becoming a professional martial arts stuntman.
Charlie works as a dishwasher in one of Sydney’s most high end restaurants, where one of her coworkers regularly ridicules and belittles her.
‘Emergency” is the 2024 music video release from one of Australia’s most unique rock acts. .
Meet Howard, a 55-year-old man with autism, as he travels home to the rural Midwest to confront his traumatic past at a high school reunion.
Simone is 24 years old. He has a permanent job and an overwhelming desire to leave his mark in life.