Memories drive documentary on a very special family
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Published: 24th April 2023
A documentary focused on the family of a woman who remembers every minute of her life will screen next month in the City of Logan.
Becky Sharrock is one of 80 known people worldwide with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM). She can easily remember minute details of her life including events on specific days and dates.
Every member of the Sharrock-Barnes family, from the Logan suburb of Hillcrest, lives with a disability including autism and dyslexia.
The family are parents Janet and Brent ‘Buddha’ Barnes and their children – Becky, the eldest, Jessica Sharrock, Kylie Barnes, Brendan Barnes and Dylan Barnes, whose ages range from 21 to 33.
Because We Have Each Other tells the blended family’s story, how they deal with their neuro-diversity, along with having too many pets and too many bills to pay.
It will screen at a ticketed event from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday, May 13 in the Butterbox Theatre in the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct.
The film will also premiere on Sunday, April 30 at the Hot Docs Festival in Toronto, Canada attended by some of the family and members of the production team.
Seed funding for the film was provided through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) which is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Logan City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
The family is looking forward to the local screening.
“It’s amazing that we can get to share and show who we are and shine in our home city,” Janet said.
“We’d like to put a positive spotlight on families in the City of Logan.”
Brent, who runs a spray painting business in Underwood, said the local screening would allow the family’s close friends and customers to enjoy the documentary.
“I’m telling everyone who comes into our business to come along and see us on the big screen,” he said.
“We are proud to be showing the lives of people with disabilities in our area.”
At 2.30pm after the film screening the Sharrock-Barnes family members will take part in a 30 minute Question and Answer session along with the film’s director Sari Braithwaite and producer Chloe Brugale.
This will be followed from 3.30pm to 4.30pm by the Logan Artworkers Networking Event including a free industry panel discussion.
Bookings for the film screening are essential and can be made at Because We Have Each Other - LoganARTS.