Autism: The Musical (2008)
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Director: Tricia Regan Cast: Elaine Hall and the children Country: USA 2007 Year: 2008 Score: *** MPAA Rating: |
AUTISM: THE MUSICAL is the kind of heart-warming feel good film with humane intentions (the transformative power of musical theatre on autistic kids) that critics like us would be lynched if we ever gave it a bad review. Fortunately, Regan’s documentary is sincere, well-made and edited even though it follows too closely her standard format of filmmaking.
The film follows five Los Angeles children, known to the audience only by their first names. Director Regan traces their lives – struggles mostly – with shots and interviews with each of their respective parents while coming together to stage a musical. Though repetitive in a way even though cross-cut with the musical rehearsals, the stories still jab at the heart. Adam, Neal, Elaine, Lexi, Henry and Wyatt have their lives unfolded on screen before Regan climaxes the film with the performed musical.
One wishes Regan would go more into the origins of the disease. Coach Elaine of the musical describes autism as a neurological disorder that causes certain brain stimuli like sound or colours to be too intense. At the film’s start the titles proclaim that 1 in 10,000 children was be diagnosed with Autism but now it is 1 in 50. She never explains this statistical difference.
All this is formulaic filmmaking nonetheless. Still, Regan’s film (especially the testimonies given by the mothers) is inspirational, moving and dramatic in parts but mostly, it is never boring. AUTISM was on the short list for the Oscar for Best Documentary feature.
AUTISM: THE MUSICAL is screened on Wednesday at Toronto’s Hot Doc series and has an airing this month on The Movie Network. You can check local listings for screening times.
Review by: Gilbert Seah
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I loved this film. It is genuine to its subject. It vignettes several families involved with the miracle project which is a music class for all kids on the spectrum. It deals with real issues, such as divorce, despair and the stages every family endures when having a child with this disorder. Stephen Stills’ (crosby stills and nash) child is one of the children, having aspergers. ANother father is a nobel prize winner. Coming from all walks of life and in the middle of filming, one father walks out on the family. The film is INTENSE. SAD. HITS HOME, ouch, this film touches the gigantic issues I don’t dare validate by speaking about them. I somehow think if I never verbalize them, they can not be real, but every family has the same horror imbedded within them if their child is non-verbal. But the documentary though real, very factual, is one of hope, challenge, tenacity and triump everyday, living the life in the world of autism. Particularly fascinating is seeing a child who has failed every therapy for speech and learns to type on the facilitating board. Resisting at first he eventually integrates it in his daily life and it becomes his method of communicating with the world, insightful things spring forth from a child that was seemingly incapable of such thinking. ANother fascinating highlight is a child explaining and wondering simultaneously the issue of children with autism withdrawing into their “own world”. Initially he is speaking about a friend with autism, but then sprinkles the conversation with the acknowledgment that he also is that way “sometimes” but quickly reverts to speaking of his friend, back and forth. I was awestruck, he wonders aloud, “why would anyone want to live in his own world? What’s the point? But I also do sometimes”. I cried thru it, laughed thru it and at times sobbed. My grandson Miles has autism and is non-verbal. I think unless you are connected in this way you may not understand why Regan did not go into the origins of the “disorder” it is NOT a disease. The reason is, it is unknown and until funding is available we may never know. This doc was not about that, it was pure in its intent to bring the audience into the world/war of autism. My method of survival was to wrestle back control, I formed a non-profit that develops classrooms and educational programs for the disabled children of developing countries.
Remarkable film a must see and I will purchase it.
Thanks for your insight on the film.