What About Petey?

After a sudden death of his wife, the film's main character, Mr. Jochec, must take care of his two teenage children, his daughter Vanessa and his son Peter, who suffers from a severe autism spectrum disorder.  Mr. Jochec, who previously often worked away from home, now has to take care of his family on his own and keep them together. Although many fathers in such situations leave their families, Mr. Jochec decides to face this challenge head-on and undergoes a daily struggle – from devoted care for both children, to providing for the family financially, to taking care of the household on a daily basis.

The film captures the Jochecs' efforts to live a normal life, touches on the question of where the boundaries of love and parenthood lie, and shows how individual family members cope with a new and difficult life situation. The documentary also touches on neglected topics such as the social support system and the lives of caregivers, but above all, it emphasizes the power of interpersonal bonds in difficult moments of life. The film WHAT ABOUT PETEY? is a realistic exploration of life on the edge of social, physical, and emotional possibilities.