Lift-off for special Sydney charity screening of critically acclaimed film

FOUR STARS each from The Times, Empire, The Guardian and The Sun

“Epic … If you don’t love this film I’ll give you a fiver” – BBC Film 2012
“Wonderful – Truly inspiring” – Q Magazine

“A deceptively moving documentary” – The Times 

On 29^th August, The Fragile X Association of Australia (FXAA) will present a special screening of Mission to Lars, an uplifting feature film about Tom Spicer, a man with Fragile X who, with thehelp of his siblings, goes on a road trip across America to find his hero, Lars Ulrich of Metallica.  Fragile X is the leading cause of intellectual disability and the most common single gene cause of autism.

All Tom has ever wanted to do is to meet Lars. After 20 years of persistently asking his journalist sister, Kate, when he was going to meet his heavy metal hero, she finally cracked. Mission to Lars is a film that looks beyond disability, and uncovers the soul of a very cool guy.

This special charity screening in aid of FXAA at the Orpheum Theatre, Cremorne, is a rare chance to see the film that has enchanted UK audiences.FXAA has been offered the chance to show the film to raise money and awareness of Fragile X and the film, as the filmmakers look for distribution in Australia. This will be the very first screening of the critically acclaimed film in Australia and will feature an appearance from special guest and filmmaker, Tom’s sister, Kate Spicer.

Joan Macdonald, Project Officer from FXAA, said:

“This film has something everyone will enjoy. Mission to Lars is a powerful movie that strives to define Tom as a person, not a disability. You will laugh and cry along with Tom and his family, whose journey includes many situations familiar to those impacted by Fragile X.”

Kate Spicer said of the Sydney screening: “I’m delighted that Tom’s dream, and our Mission to Lars can be brought to Australian audiences, not only to drive awareness of the most common form of inherited learning disability, but to also show how music has a very big heart.”

Although there is currently no cure, early intervention by health and education professionals can assist those affected by Fragile X syndrome to reach their full potential.

Joan Macdonald continued: “Latest statistics indicate that one in 180 males and one in 120 females carry the gene worldwide. Every week in Australia one child is born who is fully affected and 12 children are born who are carriers. It is estimated that 5 per cent of autistic children also have Fragile X.”