Some clips from "Mozart And The Whale"!

Post Reply New Topic

I realize this is an old film (2006) and most everybody on these boards has surely already seen it, but I wanted to put my $.02 in anyway...

Since I've only been aware of my ASD eccentricities for a short time, I wasn't aware this film even existed. When I discovered it on Movieplex, I watched it to see if I could get any insight on either myself or ASD in general. Finding out it was based on real people intrigued me even more. Now that I've seen it, I'd say it's a good, although not great, film that taps into Asperger's pretty well. But I couldn't help thinking the whole time "they're not really Aspies". So everything seemed a little too pat. It particularly irritated me when someone would just blurt out some Aspie trait "I take things people say literally!" or "I don't know what to say!" The filmmakers could have made more of an effort to convey the point through action rather than dialogue. At the same time, the acting of the background characters was either over the top or astonishingly accurate, depending on your perspective. Because Asperger's isn't well-known, a little explanation here might have been helpful, so the non-Aspie audience wouldn't think these people are just nutjobs.

Several times I did find myself laughing or cringing at traits in the film that I possess -- the messy house, the rocking, Isabelle's childlike interest in some things (her froggy hat, the rocking horse), Donald dialing the phone and then hanging up out of fear. I particularly enjoyed how various characters would jump in the conversation with oddball statistics or other statements that conveyed their special interests -- I do that all the time with trivial facts and movie quotes. I noticed several examples of "stimming toys" as well -- something I'm well practiced in. I pretty much placed myself in between Isabelle and Donald. I have many of Donald's traits, but am more open and friendly, much like Isabelle. I also have a a tendency to be "over-honest" and say things without malice that people take offense to. One thing I didn't see -- and I guess it's not necessary -- was anyone who was overly clumsy. DSM specifically mentions that, and I'm a prime example of it.

I intend to turn several people in my circle on to this movie, and get their reactions. I'm guessing they're all gonna say "you act just like those people"! Now I need to read the book...

As Mozart And The Whale had been filmed in and around - and was set in - my home town of Spokane, Washington (actually Spokane Valley, in my case), I'm happy to see familiar sites in a movie about my tribe.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer