Too Sane for This World: A Film About Adult Autism
color, 63+ min. , Talk Story Films, dist. by Cinema Libre Studio, www.cinemalibrestudio.com. 2014. DVD UPC 881394119123. $19.95; streaming and on-demand available. PSYCH
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Director Davenport here interviews 12 adults living on the autism spectrum. These individuals, varying in gender, age, and ethnicity, discuss how they discovered their condition and how they deal with its challenges. "I don't have Asperger's when I'm alone, it's when I'm with others," says one. Many of the interviewees are in the 30- to 60-year-old range and recognized that there was "something wrong" long before autism became a diagnosis. They discuss being different and the problems they faced—loneliness, bullying, depression, and discrimination, among others—but state that there was also relief in the diagnosis and emphasize the assistance of the autism community in letting them know they were not alone. On the flip side, their gifts—for example, incredible creativity and intellectual ability—shine throughout the film. Bonus features include a music video of "Space Cadet," an original song by one of the featured subjects.
VERDICT The "first wave" of children diagnosed as autistic are now adults, yet there is very little in place to assist them. This film increases awareness of the condition as a life-spanning neurological disorder. Highly recommended.
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