CLAIRE DANES plays "Temple Grandin."
Two outstanding films out recently deal with autism
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The films are worlds apart, but both show how people with this condition can bring their unique perspectives out and benefit mankind.
HBO recently released ’Temple Grandin,’ a wonderful biographical film about Temple Grandin, who grew up autistic but was able to battle her problems and revolutionize how cattle are handled up until the moment they are slaughtered.
Claire Danes is outstanding in a performance that could appear limiting to a lesser actress.
Temple grew up in a the 1960s, when doctors thought autism grew from a lack of nurturing during a critical time in a child’s life. Doctors wanted Temple institutionalized, but her mother was determined she live as normal of a life as possible.
She went to a normal high school where a teacher, played by David Strathaim, saw something special in her.
Temple could not stand to be touched, but needed the feeling of being touched. She built a contraption, a hugging device if you will, she would crawl into and give herself a hug as a way to settle down.
After a rocky time in college, she got interested in cattle and how they are treated. With her unique perspective, she could tell when the animals were mooing louder or softer, when they seemed calm and disturbed. She figured out when workers left jackets along the fence the cattle traveled around, they became nervous.
She designed and had built a more humane slaughter house, designed in a way to keep the cattle calmer, with circular walkways and steps down to the watery dip, rather than a cement slope.
This film is a true marvel. It goes into subjects I for one knew nothing about. It was educating, it was compelling.
’Adam’ is another story dealing with autism and involves yet another outstanding piece of acting, this time by Hugh Dancy. Dancy plays Adam Raki, who lived with his rich father in an apartment complex. Adam’s dad got him a job engineering the manufacturing of toys.
Adam has Asperger’s Syndrome, a functional form of autism.
A pretty young tenant moves next door, Beth, played by Rose Byrne. She is sort of taken by the quiet, clumsy Adam, not realizing at first about his disability. Adam is interested in the planet and stars to the point his discussions with others get definitely one-sided.
When Rose struggles to pull her cart of groceries over the steep steps, Adams is oblivious to her struggles.
Her parents, played by Peter Gallagher and Amy Irving, obviously oppose her getting into a relationship with this man. Adam, on the other hand, needs someone on his side because his father recently died.
It is a very human story that often takes different turns than you might expect. This isn’t your cookie-cutter romance film. It belongs in a league of its own.
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Two diverse films about a diverse condition, autism. But both are well worth watching. They will expand your world.
TEMPLE GRANDIN
Directed by Mick Jackson
Teleplay by Christopher Monger and Merritt Johnson
Runtime: 108 minutes
Not rated but good for older children
3 1/2 stars out of 4
ADAM
Directed by Max Mayer
Written by Max Mayer
Runtime: 99 minutes
Rated PG-13 for thematic material, sexual content and language
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