Autistic Superfan's 15-Year Obsession with 127 Hours Culminates in Emotional Letter from Director Danny Boyle
An ardent admirer of the 2010 survival thriller 127 Hours has shared her profoundly emotional reaction to receiving a personal letter from the film's acclaimed director, Danny Boyle. For two years, Jess, a United States resident, has documented her deep affection for the cinematic masterpiece across social platforms, earning the endearing moniker '127 Hours Girl' on Reddit and Letterboxd.
A Lifelong Fixation and Unwavering Devotion
By her own candid admission, Jess has viewed the film, which stars James Franco in the harrowing true story of trapped mountaineer Aron Ralston, more than 1,000 times. Fifteen years after first becoming captivated by the movie, she has joyously revealed to her thousands of global followers that Danny Boyle has written to her directly. Jess participated in a Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' session with the director last year, where she expressed the immense personal significance the film holds for her.
'I’m autistic and 127 Hours has been my special interest for nearly 15 years,' Jess explained in a heartfelt post. 'When I saw that Danny responded to my comment, I was shocked. I didn’t think he’d see it, let alone respond. He also said that he knew about me. That alone blew my mind.'
The Long-Awaited Delivery and Director's Touching Words
However, the anticipated package from Boyle initially failed to arrive. A Reddit employee, noticing her posts, intervened by contacting the director's team about the missing correspondence. Finally, on Friday, Jess received her long-awaited parcel, which contained a handwritten note from Danny Boyle and a crew t-shirt she vowed to 'cherish forever.'
The director's note read: 'Jess, In making a film the director watches it hundreds of times. I was so delighted - and continue to be so - that you have done the same! We’d had a big success with Slumdog Millionaire, and it was only that success that brought the finance to 127 - no one wants to watch a film about a man cutting his own arm off - they said. The film holds a very special place for me and I’m honoured it does for you too. All best always, Danny Boyle.'
A Journey of Self-Acceptance and Global Connection
Jess documented the unboxing in an emotional video for her Reddit followers, breaking down in tears as she expressed gratitude to Boyle and her supporters. 'When I started watching 127 Hours nearly 15 years ago, I never thought so many amazing things would happen to me because of it,' she reflected. 'High school me would be beyond shocked right now. I never expected to become as 'famous' as I currently am.'
She continued: 'I used to think it was wrong that I watched it as much as I did. I tried to restrict my watches. But since I decided to share my fixation with the world and be as open about it as I am, I realised there's nothing wrong with watching it whenever and how much I want. And look at where it got me now. I'm so proud of myself and I know my fixation isn't wrong. That's never going to change.'
Community Support and Awareness Raising
Fans have celebrated this heartwarming moment with Jess. One supporter posted on Reddit: 'thank you for sharing your joy with us :)' Another added: 'I'm so excited for you! Jess, I want you to know that thanks to your reddit posts I've inadvertently learned some things I never knew about autism, such as special interests. So you're helping to raise awareness (at least for me).'
This extraordinary story highlights the powerful connections forged through cinema, the importance of embracing one's passions, and the profound impact of artistic expression on individual lives.
