Parents of Dyslexic Kids Join Forces in ‘Left Behind’ Trailer to Fix NYC Public Schools — with Help from U2’s Larry Mullen Jr.

Only 1 in 5 people have dyslexia, yet nearly half of everyone incarcerated suffers from the learning disability. Those ratios don’t match, and a new documentary, “Left Behind,” aims to address the dyslexia problem at its source: the public school system.

IndieWire can exclusively share the trailer for “Left Behind,” which Abramorama is releasing in theaters on January 17, 2025. The film follows a group of New York City mothers who band together to try and form a school dedicated to helping kids specifically struggling with dyslexia. It shows the journey of the moms who established the The South Bronx Literacy Academy in NYC, which helps open additional schools and programs for kids struggling to read, as well as testing for students to diagnose dyslexia.

One such concerned parent who has been moved by the work of the Literacy Academy is Larry Mullen Jr., the drummer from U2. His child also suffers from dyslexia, and “Left Behind” features two original songs co-written by Mullen Jr. and David Baron. The first, a propulsive and percussive rocker called “Between the Lines,” was written with GAYLE and Reed Berin, and the other, “One of Us,” features Donna Lewis. You can hear “Between the Lines” in the trailer below and in full via YouTube.

“Left Behind,” which is directed by Emmy winner Anna Toomey, premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival and was a selection of Doc NYC. Mullen Jr. is also a producer on the film and participated in a post-screening Q&A following its world premiere.

Despite the limited release next month, “Left Behind” has been Oscar-qualified thanks to some NYC screenings in November, and the distributors will surely be pushing Mullen Jr.’s original songs for awards consideration.

“Left Behind” starting Jan. 17 will have a week-long engagement at the QUAD Cinema in New York and will expand to select markets nationwide after that.

“Left Behind” was produced by Green Hummingbird Entertainment’s David Beal and Sian Edwards-Beal and Velvet Strand’s Chris Farrell and Larry Mullen Jr. Executive Producers include: “Nightline” co-anchor Juju Chang, actor Jean Reno and his wife, producer/philanthropist Zofia Moreno, Lisa Domenico Brooke, Sarah E. Johnson, Ellen Lovejoy, Dan and Stephanie Fougere.

Check out the exclusive trailer below: