The Spectrum Community at Large:
Loving Lampposts
2010
Starring:
various professionals, parents, and individuals on the spectrum
Official Synopsis:
Filmmaker Todd Drezner seeks to understand the challenges of autism after his son's diagnosis. From conferences where vendors offer myriad natural remedies and therapies to "neurodiversity" advocates, this documentary explores diverse perspectives on the condition and the families who cope with it. Through it all, a portrait emerges not of a disorder but of the individuals who just happen to struggle with it.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
While respecting multiple viewpoints, this exceptional documentary takes a dual approach to the autism spectrum, with both its potentially disabling and its merely distinguishing characteristics fully considered. The increase in the rate of diagnosis is viewed not as an epidemic but largely as an increase in awareness creating opporunities for healthy improvements in society's approach to dealing with autism.
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The Spectrum Community at Large:
Normal People Scare Me
2006
Starring:
Taylor Cross,
joined by
various professionals, parents, and individuals on the spectrum
Official Synopsis:
Teenage filmmaker Taylor Cross co-directs this documentary about autism in an effort to publicize the disorder in a new way. As someone living with high-functioning autism, Cross shares an insider's view. Dozens of interviews with autistic people of all ages and their family members shed light on this often misunderstood condition. Cross's mother -- autism educator and advocate Keri Bowers -- co-directs.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
Most of the people on the spectrum featured here are kids or young adults. One or two parents who are on the spectrum are included, which provides an interesting and often neglected perspective. A variety of opinions on autism itself are given, from those who value it to those who simply accept it as part of who they are to those who would like to see a cure. The text that sometimes appears on the screen can sometimes seem jumbled. Don't watch when you're tired; it's harder to focus long enough. But do see it. There's lots of good stuff and many loving, dedicated, creative parents and professionals.
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Adults on the Spectrum:
Temple Grandin
2010
Starring:
Claire Danes
Official Synopsis:
A brilliant young woman copes with the stigma of autism at a time when it was misunderstood. With the support of her loving family, Temple dedicates herself to learning and becomes a famed animal behaviorist. Her passion for animals gives her a unique ability to understand them, and she fulfills her love of education by teaching about autism and the most humane ways to treat livestock and pets.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
This was not the first I'd heard of the world's most famous confirmed autistic, but I think it's a good introduction. Don't miss the chance to see videos of the real life Temple Grandin's talks before live audiences. She's excellent. She's also the author of several books.
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Adults on the Spectrum:
Snow Cake
2006
Starring:
Alan Rickman
Sigourney Weaver
Carrie-Anne Moss
Official Synopsis:
Alex, a British man stranded in Ontario and haunted by a fatal accident that took place there, is forced to confront his past when he meets the autistic Linda in this heartfelt drama. Linda is the mother of the teenage girl who died in the accident, and though she's sustained an unimaginable loss, it is she who helps Alex find his way back to a life once again filled with hope.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
Sigourney Weaver's portrayal was really wonderful. I recognized various commonalities I share with her character, including finding such joy in tactile and visual entertainments, as well as the need to organize my schedule and space, which can involve providing a very specific place for a house guest's things. I enjoyed this film very much, even in spite of the tense parts and sad moments.
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Adults on the Spectrum:
Wretches & Jabberers
2011
Starring:
Tracy Thresher
Larry Bissonnette
Official Synopsis:
Embarking on a world tour, two autistic adults attempt to change global attitudes about disability and intelligence. And although their communication skills are limited, their message is loud and clear.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
For someone like me, who processes information a bit more slowly sometimes, switching from text on a machine to captions to voice as the method of relating what these men, and those they visited, had to say was challenging. Also, I'd have liked to learn even more about their thoughts on things. But it was a good introductory presentation of the fact of autistics having inner lives that the rest of the world is unaware of. I invite everyone to learn more by visiting Websites run by autistics, as well as reading books authored by those on the spectrum.
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Adults on the Spectrum:
Her Name Is Sabine
(Elle S'Appelle Sabine)
Y2007
Starring:
Sabine Bonnaire
Official Synopsis:
French actress turned filmmaker Sandrine Bonnaire crafts a deeply personal portrait of her sister Sabine Bonnaire, a 38-year-old autistic woman, and examines the inadequacies of the health care system in this moving foreign-language documentary. After languishing for five years in a psychiatric hospital, Sabine was ultimately transferred to a home in the Charente region of France, where her innate talents blossomed and flourished.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
The final statement of the above discription is misleading. Sabine improves somewhat after her move to the group home, but she is not really anything like the way she was before her hospital stay. As I did, you may find yourself angered by what has happened to this woman and disturbed not only by what the mental health system anywhere can do to someone but by her country's appalling view of what autism is. This film, which is in French with English subtitles, is instructive and worth watching but upsetting rather than uplifting.
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Adults on the Spectrum:
Clay Marzo:
Just Add Water
Y2007
Starring:
Clay Marzo,
with various
family members,
fellow surfers,
and professionals
Official Synopsis:
Directed by Jamie Tierney, this absorbing documentary chronicles the story of 18-year-old surfing phenom Clay Marzo (nicknamed the "Rubber-Band Man") and his struggle with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism. Interviews with physicians and competitors such as Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, Andy Irons, C.J. Hobgood and Tom Curren are interspersed with eye-popping footage of Marzo wave riding in Tahiti, Fiji, Hawaii, Spain and Australia.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
You'll be proud when you see this guy do his thing. The professional perspective will help neurotypical viewers gain a better and more positive understanding. The surfing bits, which are plentiful and long enough to really enjoy, are also outstandingly cool. This is not in-depth fare. It's mostly just super fun! "Waves are toys from God."
- Clay Marzo
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Kids on the Spectrum:
The Horse Boy
2009
Starring:
Rupert Isaacson
Kristin Isaacson
Rowan
Official Synopsis:
When conventional therapies fail to help their autistic son, Rupert and Kristin Isaacson travel with Rowan to Mongolia in the hopes that a combination of traditional shamanic healing and horseback riding will benefit him.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
I was excited to see an alternate response to autism being expressed within the context of another culture. I also appreciated that the parents were able, in the end, to distinguish between dysfunctional behavior, which they recognized as being healed by the whole family's experience together, and autism itself, which is to do with their son's neurological construction. This film was about connection and understanding, not a supposed "cure".
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Kids on the Spectrum:
Autism: The Musical
2007
Starring:
Elaine Hall
Official Synopsis:
Filmed over a six-month period, Tricia Regan's inspiring, Emmy-nominated documentary captures the transformation of five autistic children as they develop and rehearse "The Miracle Project," an original musical about autism. Supported by their families and led by educator and coach Elaine Hall (whose son is in the production), the kids slowly develop social skills as they learn to work with one another. For some, the metamorphosis is nothing short of amazing.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
This film did not shy away from including dificult moments, such as when Elaine Hall's son, Neil, typed that his mother needed to listen better, or when one of the mothers advocated for her son as he struggled with the frustrations of attempting to participate in rehersals for the production. I felt a sense of recognition at various points, whenever something in a song or a glimpse into the lives of the kids reminded me of things I've experienced in my life.
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Parents of Spectrumites:
Refrigerator Mothers
2003
Starring:
Various Mothers of autistic children
Official Synopsis:
In the 1950s and '60s, before autism was better understood by the medical establishment, doctors blamed the condition on frigid mothering. These "refrigerator mothers" lived with decades of guilt while their children underwent questionable therapies. The mothers tell their story for the first time in this stirring documentary, which also chronicles how Bruno Bettleheim got the cause of autism wrong and how others later challenged his error.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
This is an important film. The special features are also worthwhile, though you might not agree with everyone's opinion. It would be beneficial to hear from more people from outside the white, middle and upper class model, and this film provides examples of why this is so. As for the theme, it's sad but necessary to see how wrongheaded "experts" used their authority and took advantage of so many mothers' willingness to sacrifice for their kids by burdening them with guilt. But the parts in which you see the families today show the beautiful relationships these mothers have with their children. Dedicated parents and siblings, as well as compassionate professionals, deserve thanks for their willingness to challenge the earlier established view of autism in the USA.
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Parents of Spectrumites
and Their Kids:
Ocean Heaven
also known as Haiyang Tiantang
(the original Chinese title)
2010
Starring:
Jet Li,
in his first full drama role,
and Lunmei Kwai
Official Synopsis:
With the kind help of friends and neighbors, widower and aquarium worker Sam Wong shares a contented life with his autistic 21-year-old son, David - until Sam learns that he has a terminal illness that will soon leave David orphaned. Now, the doting father begins a quest to ensure that his boy will be loved and cared for after his death.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
The official Chinese Website for this film is
here.
This film has a sweet nature, some sad moments (including the opening scene), and a hopeful ending. The main disappointment is that it doesn't look very deeply into the autistic son's experience; but the father's struggle is better explored, and this is very worthwhile. Be prepared for the word "burden" to appear, but only once, and without giving the impression that it really characterizes anyone's attitude on an ongoing basis. I saw it more as being a misdirected expression of a parent's fear and frustration with the lack of resources in a particularly disheartened moment. The film would've been much more exciting if, at any point, his son had gained access to any device that would've allowed him to communicate more of his thoughts, such as a computer or an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device.
Dialogue is in Chinese, with English subtitles.
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Romance:
My Name Is Khan
2010
Starring:
Shahrukh Khan
Kajol
Official Synopsis:
Rizwan Khan, a Muslim man with Asperger syndrome, lives happily with his wife, Mandira, in San Francisco until a tragedy drives her away after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Now he's on a quest to recapture the heart of the woman he loves.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
While romantic and well acted, this film is slightly long and offers somewhat limited racial images through some of its characters in later portions of the movie. However, the main character and Muslim culture are beautifully presented, as are his family's values, which he steadfastly upholds. In its portrayal of a man with Asperger's syndrome, I found this to be a satisfying representation of the fine qualities we can exhibit, the deep caring we feel, and the determination we have to live by what we believe in. By way of telling his story, much broader ongoing and post-9/11 societal issues in America are brought forth for consideration. This film is well worth seeing.
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Romance:
Mozart and the Whale
2005
Starring:
Josh Hartnett
Radha Mitchell
Official Synopsis:
This romantic drama follows the love affair of two people with Asperger's Syndrome -- a subtle form of autism -- as Donald, an emotionally dysfunctional mathematical genius, falls for a musically gifted woman who also copes with the disorder. Their unique natures, however, make for a challenging relationship. Norwegian director Petter Næss directs this poignant romance inspired by a true story.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
I recommend setting aside the somewhat insulting phrasing in the description and just seeing what this film is about. The challenges faced by this couple are a reminder of how abrupt, difficult, and painful life can be. The better moments of their relationship are also a reminder of how wonderful and fun it can be. In the support group, we see a range of ways people on the spectrum can appear and watch them look after each other in tough times. This film comes at you fast and takes a while to think about afterwards.
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Romance:
Adam
2009
Starring:
Rose Byrne
Hugh Dancy
Official Synopsis:
When beautiful teacher, Beth, moves into a nearby apartment, strangely awkward Adam, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, breaks through his limited social abilities and flirts with the young woman in this moving romance. Beth responds to Adam's unusual courtship, and as they overcome the obstacles to intimacy, they learn how to face life's other challenges.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
This film can be sweet and funny, but it also has its sad and awkward moments. As I look back from my mid-forties, I can see, in the main character, someone who is much as I was in my twenties. If you're single, watching this might be painful. If you have a partner, you might want to watch together, for a sense of security during the more uncomfortable scenes. You could also either stand up, so you can duck around the corner and listen from there whenever you feel unnerved or embarrassed, or you could watch from under the cover of a fuzzy blanket.
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Romance:
If You Could Say It in Words
2008
Starring:
Alvin Keith
Marin Ireland
Official Synopsis:
Nelson, a frustrated painter with Asperger's syndrome, and Sadie, a defeated dreamer unsure of her place in the world, spark an unlikely affair that allows them each to connect with deeply buried emotions and express themselves in new ways. But as the pair grow closer together, their blossoming romance faces stiff challenges from outsiders -- including Sadie's married boss, with whom she's been sleeping.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
This is a very natural looking portrayal of an undiagnosed Aspie, and I found I could really relate to him. I was as perplexed as I'm sure he would've been to know how puzzling others found him to be. I especially enjoyed that he was an artist and that he and the relationship seemed multifaceted. I'm glad I got my local library to make this available to borrowers. If you get the DVD, be sure to watch the very worthwhile special features. A video about this movie can be found here. Clips and a teaser for the film can be seen here.
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More:
by Spectrum Scribe
Ongoing
Listings and Reviews
at
Postcards from the edge of the Spectrum
under
Autism Movies
From the site:
I have assembled a small collection of Autism/Asperger’s themed movies and documentaries over the past few years.
I am also searching for other Autism themed movies as an ongoing project.
I will be listing them here, with a synopsis of the story.
A You Tube clip that captures the essence of the main Autism theme and/or a link to the movie/documentary website, will also be included where available.
I hope this will be a useful resource for the Autism community.
I expect there are many more Autism movies that I have never seen or even heard of, so I would encourage you to submit these, with or without a synopsis.
Monkey Pliers' comment:
Spectrum Scribe does a very nice job.There are films listed there that I haven't seen and don't list here yet. I recommend having a look. There's lots more out there than either of us have seen, but, between the two of us, you'll get a good start.
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