Diksha Sundriyal
Netflix’s ‘Night Always Comes’ follows the story of Lynette, who is forced to resort to unsavoury means to get the money to secure the house she has been living in with her mother and brother, Ken. Taking place over the course of 24 hours, the story unfolds in ways that reveal Lynette’s internal struggles and the psychological turmoil that makes her fixated on buying the house. In the course of events, she also reels in Kenny, her elder brother, who remains her rock even in the worst of times. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Kenny has Down Syndrome in Night Always Comes
At the beginning of the film, we are introduced to Lynette and her family. She lives with her mother, but they don’t exactly see eye to eye on a lot of things, and that’s where Kenny becomes the glue that holds the family together. He is a person with Down syndrome, which means taking care of him is one of the major things that Lynette focuses on. While she tries to fix everything, he sees through her and can see that she is struggling on a personal level, even though she won’t admit it to him. He also reminds her several times that he is her elder sibling and he will take care of her no matter what, which comes as a great comfort to Lynette.
Kenny having Down syndrome might be seen as a limitation by some, but he does his best to be there for his mother and sister. He is in the process of looking for a job, and keeps prodding Lynette to ask her boss if there is a job available for him as well. He also stands by his sister when he realises that she has landed herself in trouble, and tries to make her see that the house is not more important than them being together and safe. Kenny’s love for his sister forms the emotional core of the story. He becomes the soul of the film, while also adding more depth to Lynette’s character, and advancing her character development by the end of the film.
Zack Gottsagen Turned His Dreams Into Reality
Like his character, Kenny, in ‘Night Always Comes,’ Zack Gottsagen also has Down syndrome. He harboured the dream of becoming an actor from a young age, and was particularly inspired by a TV show called ‘Life Goes On,’ which features an actor with Down syndrome. The desire to go into acting led him to enrol in a performing arts school. When Palm Beach County rejected his application, his mother fought them and ensured that her son had the same opportunities as anyone else. While his education in arts and acting was ongoing, he took on different roles, while also working additional jobs, including working at a local movie theater.
In 2005, Zach performed at the Royal Palm Playhouse in a production of ‘Artie.’ His involvement with Zeno Mountain Farms nonprofit film productions led him to projects like ‘Burning Like a Fire,’ ‘Life of a Dollar Bill,’ and ‘Bulletproof,’ and its behind-the-scenes documentary ‘Becoming Bulletproof.’ Filmmakers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz watched the documentary while also having crossed paths with Zach at Zeno, and were so captivated by his screen presence that they decided to collaborate with him on a project. He asked them to write a movie for him, and they did it in the form of ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon.’
The success of ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon,’ co-starring Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson, propelled Zach’s career to new heights. He was recognised by the Associated Press as a Breakthrough Entertainer, received a Rising Star Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and received a Newcomer Award by the Hollywood Critics Association. He also became the first person with DS to be a presenter at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020.
Zack Gottsagen is an Inspiration for People With Down Syndrome
When Zack Gottsagen expressed his desire to be an actor, there were some people who didn’t believe he could do it. However, he didn’t let their opinion, especially about Down syndrome, stop him. He knew that if he worked hard and worked well, he would get where he wanted to be, and that’s exactly what happened. The actor is proud of his accomplishments, and he wants others with DS to be inspired by his journey. “People think that someone with Down can’t do things. I want to prove them wrong. If they watch me in a movie, maybe they’ll think that they can do anything too. Maybe someone else with a disability will follow their dreams because of me,” he said in an interview with People.
He is a vocal advocate of more representation for people with disabilities in Hollywood. His message to the young generation of actors, especially those with disabilities, is that they should believe in themselves, work hard, and audition for anything that comes their way. More importantly, he wants them not to listen to what others say you can or can’t do, and just focus on their dreams, no matter what. Apart from acting, Zack also loves music. He likes rap music and has himself dabbled in rap. He also loves sports and enjoys bowling, swimming, basketball, and watching wrestling. He is also interested in dancing and improv. Additionally, Zack loves to spend time with his three rescue dogs and also enjoys spending time with his family, friends, and loved ones.
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