The 15 Best Movies About Autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a set of developmental disorders that cause problems in social interactions, communication, and behavior. When studies with people with autistic traits began to be carried out in the last century, the so-called Asperger Syndrome (first described by Hans Asperger) and Autism (first described by Leo Kanner) were considered differently and separately. Over time, an author named Lorna Wing observed common points between them and proposed a vision of these problems as a continuum and not as distinct categories, thus giving rise to the consideration of autism as a spectrum, known today by its acronym TEA.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Talking about ASD implies, therefore, referring to a heterogeneous group, where people share the diagnosis of autism but show very diverse manifestations. To consider that a person suffers from ASD, a specialized professional must carry out an exhaustive evaluation that allows him to know the state of certain central areas. Before the age of 3, you can see some signs that may alert you to the existence of ASD, but the official diagnosis is not usually carried out until that minimum age is reached.

The affected areas in the TEA, according to Wing, are as follows:

• Social interaction
• Communication and imagination
• Rigid and repetitive behavior pattern

According to this author, the affectation of these aspects is independent of intelligence. That is, people with autism do not always show intellectual disability, and can sometimes be very intelligent.

Being present the affectation of these three central areas, people with an ASD diagnosis can show great differences between them according to aspects such as the intellectual level or the degree of language development. A) Yes, individuals with ASD who display high intelligence and developed language move toward the area of ​​the spectrum that fits what used to be called Asperger's Syndrome.

On the contrary, those who show intellectual disability and absence of language fit the profile of classic autism described by Kanner. Between both poles, as we have been saying, we can find an enormous diversity of manifestations. For this reason, addressing autism is a challenge and requires an intervention tailored to the needs and characteristics of each child.

Autism has always been a phenomenon very unknown to the general population, with numerous myths and erroneous beliefs surrounding it. One of the channels that has allowed us to know more about this problem is the cinema. There are many films that address this issue and help us get a little closer to this reality. If you are interested in learning more about autism and what life is like for a person with this condition, here are 15 essential films that will help you learn about it.

Great Movies That Talk About Autism

Although, fortunately, we know much more about ASD today than a few decades ago, there is still great ignorance about this reality that affects many people. The cinema has portrayed autism and its implications on numerous occasions, so watching one of these films will help you learn more about it.

1. Rain Man (1988)

In this film the protagonist is Charles, a car salesman who discovers that he has an older brother with autism. His greed leads him to take care of him to get money from his inheritance, but after sharing many moments together he knows and understands his brother better and establishes a very special bond with him.

2. Mater Amatísima (1980)

This film tells the story of Clara, Juan's mother, a boy with autism. She makes a great effort to ensure that her son is integrated into society, but progressively her life begins to be reduced to taking care of him. This leads mother and child to establish a strong bond of dependency.

3. Sally's Secret (1993)

This film tells the story of Ruth, a woman who has become a widow and must take care of her daughter Sally alone. The girl begins to adopt an atypical behavior and therefore Ruth goes to a specialist to assess what is happening. From that moment on, Ruth will fight to understand her daughter's reality and help her.

4. Maria and I (2010)

In this story it is captures the relationship between a father and his daughter María, a teenager with autism. In this film you will be able to observe the diversity that the autism spectrum encompasses and how this condition influences the link between the two.

5. The lighthouse of the orcas (2016)

This film tells the story of Lola, who travels to Patagonia Argentina with her son Tristán, who has autism. There they will meet Beto, a wildlife guard who watches over the wild killer whales in the area. There Tristán will show a response of empathy with orcas never seen before, so Lola will fight so that her son can improve in the midst of that natural environment.

6. My name is Khan (2010)

The protagonist of this story is Rizwan Khan, a Muslim boy with Asperger syndrome who was raised in Bombay by his mother. As an adult, he falls in love with Mandira, a single mother of Hindu origin. After the 9/11 attack, Rizwan is detained as a terrorist suspect because of his conduct. However, the reality is that this is due to his condition. After receiving the support of a therapist, Rizwan will go on a journey to meet with Barack Obama and clear his name.

7. The Black Balloon (2008)

The plot of this movie revolves around Thomas, a teenager who has a brother with autism named Charlie. Thomas wants to have a normal adolescence like the others, but Charlie prevents him. At this point, Thomas's girlfriend, Jackie, comes into play and will try to help him to accept his brother as he is.

8. Ben X (2007)

This film tells the story of Ben, a boy with Asperger Syndrome who suffers severe bullying from his classmates. Due to this situation, he is deeply distressed with his life. However, Ben finds his way of escape in a famous video game, since in it he is a brave hero and a great player.

9. After Thomas (2006)

This film tells the story of Kyle Graham, a boy with severe autism who has very limited communication skills, has outbursts of anger and has not been able to control his bowels. His parents are overwhelmed, but the arrival in the family of a Golden Retriever they call Thomas will change the course of the situation completely.

10. I am Sam (2001)

This film tells the story of Sam, a man with an intellectual disability who has a daughter. The mother abandons them when the little girl was just a baby, but the real problems begin when she turns 7 and begins to have greater intellectual capacity than her father. The state doubts that Sam can take care of the little girl, so a trial is held that may end their custody. The lawyer who defends Sam changes his cold vision of things when he knows the bond of love that binds father and daughter and will try to do everything possible to defend his rights as a father.

11. Molly (1999)

The protagonist of this plot is Molly, a 28-year-old woman who suffers from severe autism. Since the death of her parents in an accident, she lives in an institution, but it closes due to budget problems. That's when Molly is left in charge of her older brother, an executive named Buck. He begins to have problems due to the behavior of his sister and for this reason he consents to an experimental treatment.

This seems to work and Molly begins to speak and act normally, leading to an active social life. However, after a few months this intervention loses its effectiveness and Buck rejects it and sends her back to a psychiatric center. Finally, Buck reconsiders, accepts his sister as she is and welcomes her into his home.

12. Backstreet dreams (1990)

This film tells the story of a couple whose son, Shane, suffers from serious mental problems. After many difficulties at home, both decide to take their little one to a specialist to help them manage the situation. The psychologist determines that Shane's problem is that he suffers from autism, which prevents him interact in a normal way with those around you.

13. A witness in silence (1994)

This tape tells the story of a child with autism who witnesses the murder of his parents. The police must ask a psychiatrist for help to get the testimony of the child and thus be able to solve the case.

14. So Strong, So Close (2011)

This film stars Oskar, a child with special abilities who at only 11 years old is capable of inventing objects, has extensive knowledge of astrophysics and considers himself a pacifist. After the death of his father in the 9/11 attacks, he finds an envelope containing a key, so he becomes obsessed with finding the lock where that key can fit.

15. They Call Me Radio (2003)

The protagonist of this film is a lonely boy with some kind of disability, who has been dubbed Radio because of his desire for music, which leads him to go everywhere with a radio. He does not communicate with other people, although he is passionate about soccer. It is then that the coach of the high school team notices him, gains his trust and encourages him to train and participate in games, allowing him to open up to the outside world.