Adam: Asperger's movie coming to cinemas
Whatever you think of the way in which Hollywood movies sometimes show disability on screen - from fantastic through to, well, making you want to throw the popcorn over yourself and hide under your seat until the closing credits roll - there's a new one coming our way, and this time it features a central character with Asperger's syndrome.
Opening in UK cinemas on Friday 7th August, is a quirky romantic comedy starring Hugh Dancy (previously seen in The Jane Austen Book Club and Confessions of a Shopaholic and Rose Byrne (who has starred in Damages and 28 Weeks Later). Adam is a handsome but intriguing young man with Asperger's who has led a sheltered life - but all that changes when he meets his new neighbour, Beth, a beautiful and brainy writer damaged from a past relationship. She finds his awkwardness perplexing (difficulty in social situations being one of the traits of AS), but is undeniably attracted to him ... ah, it's already beginning to sound like heartwarming Sunday afternoon film fare, isn't it? Break out the chocolates.
The movie has already won an award at the influential Sundance Film Festival, and has also been selected as the closing night premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival at the end of June. In the meantime, the rest of us can . Keep an eye on Ouch! too, as closer to the film's release date we're hoping to bring you a review.
Comment number 1.
At 15th Jun 2009, Chris_Page wrote:I've seen plenty of fantastic representations of a Disabled person in Hollywood films - if you mean fantastic as in fantasy, ie totally unreal...
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Comment number 2.
At 22nd Jun 2009, biglegless wrote:How can anyone, even in the shallowness of Hollywood think that aspergers syndrome is entertainment.
People who cannot fully experience relationships because they are not built that way are not fodder for the film industry. No doubt the film will be 'happy ever after'.
I will never be a cured aspergers patient, my life will never be changed because I meet someone nice. As ever anything is easy fodder in the making money game.
Let someone make a movie about whatit is really like facing discrimination in every aspect of daily life because you are not 'normal' or you legs or arms don't work. No it wont happen because stereotypes and market forces are what life is about and god help anyone that is the 'subject' of that attention.
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Comment number 3.
At 24th Jun 2009, Kimberly wrote:Well, maybe it will help people to understand, it depends on how well the movie is made
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Comment number 4.
At 24th Jun 2009, placci_scouuser wrote:Bent Link
Not sure where to put this comment. If this is comment 4 then alomgside it are pictures 'Ouch blogs ... ' with at the bottom a link 'why is the Ö÷²¥´óÐã content ...' If you follow the link it explains instead why the bbc has external links.
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Comment number 5.
At 26th Jun 2009, G5airplane wrote:I'm looking forward to this film, even though I know this will be exaggerated and stuff I still enjoy these things.
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Comment number 6.
At 2nd Jul 2009, MM wrote:My son is autistic, not disabled...
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Comment number 7.
At 5th Jul 2009, StefPuppet wrote:I think this will be very interesting to see. My brother has Aspergers syndrome and I was in a long term relationship with someone who has Aspergers syndrome, so I'm intrigued to see what they have made and whether or not it is going to be enlightening or under researched.
I understand that if it is hollywood then it is likely to exaggerate and end 'happily' but it could be a useful media to raise people's understanding. We shall just have to wait and see.
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Comment number 8.
At 10th Jul 2009, Deek43 wrote:I'm looking forward to seeing the film. My husband has Aspergers' and so does our eldest son and our other child has ASD. I'm not expecting them to get it "right" and a "happily ever after" is never going to happen in real life but I'd just like to see how they express/deal with the usual situations that pop up.
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Comment number 9.
At 16th Jul 2009, watermelonsarefab wrote:the movie should give people an understanding of aspergers.
my brother has aspergers an i think having a film where the main character had it is a great idea as long as it is realistic.
i hope they show what its like to live with aspergers syndrome and how people with aspergers find it hard to socialise.
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Comment number 10.
At 3rd Aug 2009, richardmariner wrote:I heard about this film on the radio yesterday and cannot wait to see it.
I am 26 and was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome last year. my 6 year old son has severe Autism and we both find life very challenging.
I hope that this film portrays the difficulties people with these conditions face and I hope that I can get people I work with to go and see the film so they understand how difficult everyday things are for me.
Here is to Asperger's getting some exposure. Am I getting my hopes up if I think people will be nicer to me now???
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Comment number 11.
At 13th Mar 2010, MayerX wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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