Becca is Learning

Temple Grandin… a flick you should all have seen by yesterday (I watched it this evening)

I love film. I love the way it is a language that we can all speak… some better than others, granted. It would not be kind to incorporate the writers of the American Pie trilogy (was it a trilogy?) into this conversation.

Tonight I watched a film of immense quality, Temple Grandin. Strange title, yes, I am noticing that your eyebrows are knat in confusion. It’s named after the story of a woman called Temple Grandin.

Whilst this title sounds more like a bizarre crossbreed of reality TV show, like a hybrid of Pimp My Ride, Grand Designs and Songs of Praise, it’s actually a movie about the story of a young woman with autism learning how to take something that could have massively limited or even destroyed her, become an attribute that set her apart to contribute her unique offering.

Temple Grandin was diagnosed with autism in 1950. Through the support and understanding of her family and various key influences, particularly one teacher, Temple was able to develop necessary skills for living and communication, but more significantly excell through offering her incredible intelligence in areas of science and animal science, that were particularly high due to areas of intelligence linked with autism.

(Temple Grandin with Claire Danes)

I was shocked and actually sickened by a glimpse of general society’s attitude towards people with autism merely 60 years ago. My hope is that in another 60 years time people with autism are effortlessly celebrated and able to be recognised and contribute without any limits of society’s misunderstanding, ignorance or prejudices. This is progress that if we don’t make we are losing out on, and causing unnecessary suffering to those with autism and those who support those with autism.

Let’s get challenged by this film. Where are our areas of ignorance that would limit those in our society who are different to the norm? Imagine the untapped potential there would be if every human being who we struggle to relate to was able to flourish in their very best conditions?

Claire Danes’ acting was marvellous. She is clearly a highly intelligent actress, continuing to deliver with brilliance, what we glimpsed in her young but wonderful portrayal of Beth in Little Women way back in ‘94. She one a Golden Globe, but in my opinion should’ve been both Oscar-ed and knighted at the same time.

I can’t not use this movie for the Rootz Film Club. It totally fits my criteria for these reasons;

• It’s a great watch, you’ll get sucked in and enchanted by the story. You are likely to laugh, be empassioned, feel the warm fuzzies, and possibly even get the ol’ damp eye at the pinnicle moments.
• You’ll learn. Films can be such a brilliant viechle of our adult education. They can also be pretty brain mooshing too though, (I’m thinking American Pie once again).
• Great discussion to be had afterwards. In a kind of you-can’t-help-but-respond-and-vocalise kind of way. Or at least I couldn’t.
• Some key truths that were evident in the story; hope, redemption, liberation, perseveerance, love.

Watch it. Unless you’re in the Chorleywood area and then save yourself for the big screening at Rootz Coffee Shop. It’ll be on June 16th and all the cool kids will be there. And me.

Do you know what else I really appreciate about this film? No? Well read on… I LOVE LOVE LOVE that this is a sophisticated movie, deep and insightful, and total crafted for the adult viewer, but still only has a PG rating, thus proving that it is possible to entertain Generation X without sex scenes or the ‘f bomb’.