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Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984)
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In one of his first major roles, 13-year-old River Phoenix stars in this ABC Afterschool Special as junior-high student Brian Ellsworth, who has a habit of writing his words -- and the letters -- backwards. Brian's friends think he's kidding, his teachers think he's lazy, and his parents think he's slow. In truth, Brian suffers from dyslexia -- or as he explains his plight, "You know what I see? A bunch of letters. All mixed up." Cast as Brian's younger brother Robby is River Phoenix's real-life sibling Leaf, who would later bill himself as Joaquin Phoenix. ~ All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- River Phoenix - Brian Ellsworth
- Leaf Phoenix - Robby Ellsworth
- Judy Farrell - Barbara Ellsworth
- Madge Sinclair - Miss Tomas
- Bo Kaprall - Walter Ellsworth
- Stephanie Evans - Kim
- Director(s):
- Alex Grasshoff
- Writer(s):
- Arthur Heinemann, Franklin Thompson
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