So, I had an opportunity to watch the film Temple Grandin over the weekend. You can view the IMDB page or take a look at the HBO page to find out more about the film. If you would like to read more about Temple Grandin herself or please visit her website for Autism.
What do you think about this film? Have you seen it? Do you know about Temple Grandin?
Here are my thoughts on the film:
Temple Grandin is a film full of sensory overload. It is the first time I have ever been able to begin to understand what it must be like to have Autism. A non-autistic person would never be able to fully understand what Autism is like, but this movie gives you a “door” into its world. A beautifully casted film, Temple Grandin follows the life of Temple Grandin up to her debut as a national spokesperson for Autism. The audience sees how she got from point A to point B. With a mother who never gave up on her child, an aunt that let Temple be herself, and a teacher who pushed her limits, Temple was able to grow in a way that few kids like her had the opportunity to do.
Claire Danes, with her soul reaching eyes, portrays Temple in a truly genuine way. Danes seems to grasp the person, not just the illness. She is flawless in the portrayal of Temple; to a point that you seem to forget that she is an actress playing a part. Julia Ormond gives life to the ruthless mother of Temple Grandin, but she also shows you the pain and heartache of watching her child grow up with hardship. Catherine O’Hara takes a beautiful turn as her aunt that gives her wings. O’Hara generally swings for the comedic roles, but does an amazing job in this film. David Strathairn, who consistently makes you believe in whoever he is portraying, makes the audience see this man that provides Temple the keys to success.
Mr. Carlock teaches Temple to see each obstacle as a door that needs to be opened and just walked through. The theme of doors helps Temple in every facet of life; from walking through that door to graduate school or walking through an automatic door that is so terrifying she can only see a guillotine. The doors keep Temple moving. For Temple Grandin, life is told through a series of pictures. This film is a wonderful portrait of the life of Temple Grandin; whether you see her love for only Jello or yogurt, or you see that even though she is Autistic she wants to make a difference in the lives of others. This is truly a story of perseverance that should be seen and heard by all.
