Understanding the difficulties and challenges faced by students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and their families are not always easy. Some resources such as books or ICT tools help to identify the symptoms of autism and understand some techniques to facilitate learning in the classroom.
These Films to understand ASD also reflect this diversity and aim to break down prejudices about this disease. Take a look at them!
The Best Movies about autism
The best movies about autism are:
- The lighthouse of the whales
- The Specials
- Please Stand By
- My name is Khan
- Rain Man
- The Black Balloon
- Molly
- I Am Sam
- Miracle Run
The lighthouse of the whales
Based on true events, this Spanish production tells the story of Tristán, an autistic boy who develops a close bond of empathy and stimulus-response with killer whales.
For this reason, Lola, his mother, decides to travel with the protagonist to Patagonia Argentina to meet Beto, a young wildlife ranger who has very special and close contact with these cetaceans.
Year: 2016
Length: 110 min
Director: Gerardo Olivares
Rating: 13+
The Specials
It tells the true story of two friends, Stephane and Daoud, who created an NGO to help children suffering from ASD. In this French comedy film, the protagonists, Bruno and Malik, decide to create two associations to guide and train young people from troubled neighbourhoods to become caregivers for autistic patients.
The goal of both of them is to achieve a fairer society that allows for properly treating the most complex cases of autism and not looking the other way.
Year: 2019
Length: 114 min
Director: Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache
Rating: 7+
Please Stand By
The plot centers on Wendy Walcott, a 28-year-old autistic girl who works in a coffee shop and has hobbies such as dancing, knitting clothes and listening to music. She lives in a clinic where she tells her therapist her daily routine.
One day she decides to run away to enter her Star Trek script in a contest to prove to her sister that she is self-sufficient and can take care of herself. The protagonist intends to return home with only the prize from the writing competition.
Year: 2017
Length: 93 min
Director: Ben Lewin
Rating: 7+
My name is Khan
Rizwan Khan is an Indian and Muslim man who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome, one of the developmental disorders included in autism. The protagonist falls in love with Mandira, a young Hindu woman who lives with her son in San Francisco.
After the 9/11 attacks in New York, he is arrested as a suspect because of his behaviors due to his disability. After his arrest, Khan is determined to find and meet with the President of the United States, Barack Obama, to prove his innocence and clear his name.
Year: 2010
Running Time: 165 min
Director: Karan Johar
Rating: 7+
Rain man
Its protagonist is Charlie Babbit, a young man who is waiting to collect his late father’s fortune. When he learns that the beneficiary of the inheritance is his brother Raymond, a boy with autism whom he does not know because he has lived in a special care clinic, he does not hesitate to go looking for him.
Together they will travel a long journey through the United States in which Charlie will gradually get to know his brother’s way of being and will learn to manage his disorder, take care of him and love him.
Year: 1988
Length: 129 min
Director: Barry Levinson
Rating: suitable for all audiences
The Black Balloon
Thomas wants to have teenage years like the rest of his friends, but his brother with ASD and hyperactivity, Charlie, takes away his independence. With the help of Jackie, his girlfriend, Thomas will come to understand that he must accept his brother as he is.
Director and screenwriter Elissa Down has two brothers with autism and was inspired by their lives to tell this story about acceptance, love and family.
Year: 2008
Length: 97 min
Director: Elissa Down
Rating: 13+
Molly
Molly is an orphan girl with autism who has lived all her life in a health center, where she receives care from all kinds of professionals.
But one day her older brother decides to take her out of there and start a life together. A film that will undoubtedly move you. Ideal to watch with teenagers.
Year: 1999
Length: 97 min
Director: John Duigan
Rating: 13+
I Am Sam
Sam Dawson has autism and must fight to keep custody of his young daughter, since the State considers him unfit to take charge of her education. His defense will be handled by a prestigious lawyer, Rita Harrison, whose initial disinterest and coldness will change after meeting Sam, discovering the love he feels for his daughter and seeing his determination to defend his rights as a father.
Year: 2001
Length: 132 min
Director: Jessie Nelson
Rating: 13+
Miracle Run
A single mother, Corrine, discovers that her seven-year-old twin sons are autistic. However, she decides not to give up trying to give them a normal life.
As teenagers, her children manage to enrol in school thanks to the dedication of a teacher who specializes in autism issues.
Year: 2004
Length: 96 min
Director: Gregg Champion
Rating: All ages
Characteristics of Autism and Asperger’s
Parents at home or preschool teachers can identify autistic children or Asperger’s syndrome by observing characteristics such as difficulty following a conversation, little demonstration of emotions and difficulty answering questions.
Another characteristic is not responding to their name and lack of attention, as if they do not listen because they are focused on their own thoughts, they also have difficulty making friends and maintain repetitive behaviors.
They also suffer from hypersensitivity, for example, they can be very sensitive to loud sounds, so they cover their ears, sometimes it is the sense of sight that is sensitive as they do not tolerate bright lights, but the most common is touch, where they do not feel comfortable to be touched, that includes hugs even from their parents.
One way to understand how it manifests itself in individuals, you can watch movies on autism and Asperger’s.
Conclusion
ASD, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a developmental disorder affecting the brain, characterized by communication and social interaction problems that usually appear in the early years of a person’s development. Movies about autism and Asperger does not only serve to understand this disorder but also to raise awareness among those who watch them.
Asperger’s syndrome is a neurobiological alteration and is part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder in its mildest form, a child diagnosed at an early age can undergo therapy and learn to develop his social skills, being able to communicate in an absolutely normal way.
In addition to movies about autism and Asperger’s, autism spectrum disorder has also been reflected in many series such as The good doctor, which is still on the air and has been a worldwide hit because of its protagonist, a surgeon with ASD.
We hope you have learned a lot more about ASD and do not miss these movies about autism and Asperger’s that we recommend.
If you have any questions or comments let us know!
