Autism in Film
For many years, if you wanted to rent a movie about autism, you had only one choice: Rain Man. Although it never hurts to revisit such a classic, in recent years there has been a virtual explosion of movies featuring autistic characters very different from Rain Man’s savant.

The most recent and critically acclaimed of these films, The Black Balloon (NeoClassics Films, 2008), is a story of two teenage brothers, one of whom is severely autistic. Both film critics and autism advocates herald the Australian film’s realistic portrayal of the disorder. Elissa Down, who wrote and directed the movie, grew up with two autistic brothers and no doubt drew on her own experiences when creating the characters and dialogue. (The Black Balloon is available on DVD in Australia and will be released in the U.S. later this year.)

In 2006’s Snow Cake (IFC), Sigourney Weaver plays an independent autistic woman who helps a guilt-ridden stranger, played by Alan Rickman, come to terms with his issues about love and death. The film received mixed reviews, but Weaver’s performance was praised by many in the autistic community.

Mozart and the Whale (Sony Pictures, 2005) is a more light-hearted film about a romance between two young adults who have Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism marked by high IQ and social difficulties. The film, starring Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell, is based on the book of the same title, which chronicles the relationship highs and lows of real-life couple Jerry and Mary Newport.

The next few years promise more autism-related movies, including both documentaries and feature films. There are even reports of a biopic of Temple Grandin, the autistic veterinary researcher made famous by Oliver Sacks in his book An Anthropologist on Mars (Knopf, 1995), with Claire Danes in the title role—so stay tuned.

7 Comments

1. 1. candide 11:44 AM 4/16/09

   SciAm or Hollywood gossip magazine?
   Hard to tell the difference.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

2. 2. lgreynolds 01:40 PM 4/16/09

   then you need to get your difference-determiner checked, professionally.
   
   Learning about autism requires funding. Funding comes from people who care about autism. More (good/realistic) movies about autism mean more people who care about autism - maybe - which may mean more funding for learning about autism.
   
   For people studying autism (scientists/doctors), a 'look here' list of possible (entertaining) sources of information for a layperson's questions about autism can only be beneficial to the scientific American.
   
   Grow up.
   L

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

3. 3. fantasyfeline 09:05 AM 4/17/09

   Lovely article! I've got to see them all.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

4. 4. pyschmurphy 10:38 AM 5/26/09

   As a psychology teacher the more a disorder is shown based in reality the easier it is for my students to understand the disorder. I wish Hollywood would create more realistic movies, I can't explain how many kids think Fight Club is a great example of dissociative identity dissorder or think that every person with Autism is a genius in hiding. Reality is a great tool for teaching.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

5. 5. Voltaire 10:53 PM 6/8/09

   Dear Candide,
   
   As you search for the best of all possible worlds, try to relax.
   
   Want to change the world, change your mind.
   
   Best,
   
   V

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

6. 6. Vilas 04:06 AM 8/17/09

   I am working as Medical Geneticist at Preventine Life Care and would like to contribute this piece of information to Paediatricians in the Conference. our team is presenting various scientific papers at conference in Mumbai, the topic of which is Autism. V

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

7. 7. reishi9154 02:41 AM 10/17/11

   It is very important for the general public to see representations of autism on TV. It is also important for those with autism or those with autism in their family. TV is a mirror of our culture, and unfortunately the place where most people seem to get their information. By not showing any people with autism on TV it is as if we do not exist.
   
   One place you can learn more about Asperger's and autism for anyone who is interested is the site http://www.aspergerssociety.org/articles/toc.htm , which has many informative articles.
   
   Those are great movie choices. I would also add the movie "My Name is Kahn," which I thought was a wonderful representation of a man with autism.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this