Understanding Autism Featured, Reviews Film Threat
CONTACT NEWPORT BEACH 2023 MOVIE! Scott Steindorff’s Understanding Autism is a powerful documentary that brings a new perspective to this underrepresented group in American society. As an autistic person myself, that brings all the challenges and optimistic moments that come in the life of an autistic person. Everything from quirky hobbies to concerns are handled with compassion and respect. The film follows Steindorff’s personal journey in learning he was born Autistic, and he interviews both Autistic children and adults. Autism’s history is weaved in between the interviews. There are shocking reveals, such as Dr. Johann Asperger and his ties with Nazi Germany, as well as horrific electric shock treatments used in the early twentieth century to treat the condition. The importance of a solid educational experience is emphasized with a focus on private schools that help children on the spectrum. The film highlights the lack of enough private schools to help these students.
Oh my god, this movie made me cry so many times. Hearing from parents and other men and women on the autism spectrum is a moving experience. The journey of self-discovery and finding a place in a skeptical world is the new message that the film brings. This is truly one of the most empathetic cinematic depictions of autism. The only positive role I saw in film/TV was Brick Heck on the ABC sitcom The Middle. The documentary helps audiences hear the ambitions of people with big dreams. For example, a teenager in New York wanted to become a train conductor because of his extraordinary knowledge of the subway. Rather, it shows why autistic men and women must be included in the American dream. While the documentary aims to provide a humanistic perspective, it unfortunately touches lightly on identity politics. This topic is so broad that it might be better explored as a single documentary. The film also highlights the contributions of autistic people such as creating technology for space satellites and algorithms for social networking sites. There are no famous names recognized and famous figures such as Elon Musk and Bill Gates should have been mentioned. Despite these flaws, Steindorff’s documentary is still an eye-opener for those unfamiliar with autism. Hopefully these inspirational stories will motivate parents and people with autism to be resilient and fight to achieve their goals.