Jeffrey And The Dinosaurs

This is a documentary about Jeffery H Marzi, a man born with severe brain damage. Jeffery is a handicapped adult, able to drive despite learning difficulties so severe doctors feared he could not learn to ride a tricycle. He is a charming man, honest and earnest.

Jeffery writes science fiction, the adventures of a Pterodactyloid man; typed out on an ancient computer, illustrated by simple pencil drawings, they are innocent, heart-warming. Jeffery hopes that they will be his "passport [from] poverty", his chance to do well for himself, to look after himself and others.

Directed by Christoph Steger for Channel 4's Animate season, this is a touching portrait of an optimist. Jeffrey's stories, which he regularly sends to Hollywood producers, are animated here, framed by Jeffrey explaining himself and his work. The Unstuck programme and the Animate series both characterise his work as 'Outsider Science Fiction', and as with most "Outsider Art" one feels that the label is applied as an excuse to gawk.

Jeffrey's story, and his work as well, are touching. He has an innocence to him that warms the heart, but there's something in the presentation of him that grates, that discomfits. It is on par with the exploitation of children, an unkindness. One wonders how the film was presented to him, what he thought he was consenting to, if, indeed, his consent was asked. It has the air of a ha'penny tour of Bedlam, despite, perhaps even because of, the care that Steger has taken in presentation.