Doesn't sound too bad, judging from the article. I don't know why it has to be a tragedy though.
The film "Ben X" has a beautiful website:
http://www.benx.be/
Unfortunately, the film's website doesn't mention that Ben is on the autistic spectrum.
I hope the actual film does explicitly mention that Ben is on the autistic spectrum. Otherwise, even if he exhibits obvious autistic traits, the viewers would not understand that
The film "Ben X" has a beautiful website:
http://www.benx.be/
Unfortunately, the film's website doesn't mention that Ben is on the autistic spectrum.
I hope the actual film does explicitly mention that Ben is on the autistic spectrum. Otherwise, even if he exhibits obvious autistic traits, the viewers would not understand that
I got the impression from this, that he was being portrayed AS.
Balthazar loosely based Ben X on the actual story of an autistic high-schooler who was brutalized by classmates for being different and who unsuccessfully attempted to retreat into a fantasy world. "The real story was far more cruel than the one I wrote," he said. "I think it would have proved just much too difficult for audiences to take. I like to think of our film as a feel-good tragedy.
"But the awful thing about Asperger's syndrome and autism in general is that people think they understand and have no clue. The people suffering live in fear all the time. Our ever-changing society is tough enough for the rest of us, but for them it's near impossible. Their greatest problem is us. They are often and constantly bullied and they require so much courage."
I like the website, thanks.
"But the awful thing about Asperger's syndrome and autism in general is that people think they understand and have no clue. The people suffering live in fear all the time. Our ever-changing society is tough enough for the rest of us, but for them it's near impossible. Their greatest problem is us. They are often and constantly bullied and they require so much courage."
Taken from site above --- I wondered if this quote is true for all people with aspergers??
"But the awful thing about Asperger's syndrome and autism in general is that people think they understand and have no clue. The people suffering live in fear all the time. Our ever-changing society is tough enough for the rest of us, but for them it's near impossible. Their greatest problem is us. They are often and constantly bullied and they require so much courage."
Taken from site above --- I wondered if this quote is true for all people with aspergers??
I don't know about other people.
For myself yes, but that is partially due to life experiences & a very overactive imagination ( by that I mean that if I know I will enter an unfamiliar situation or perhaps face something that worries me, My mind will mull over every possible permutation of what may happen if I do or don't do X or Y etc.).
Both of my sons are similar, ( the younger is certainly much worse than me ) but they grew up with me, so may or may not have picked this up.
It's true for me - but as I have got older I can cope with a lot more.
It's definitely true for my son - and I feel it's world induced. Makes things incredibly hard for him.
I don't know about other people.
For myself yes, but that is partially due to life experiences & a very overactive imagination ( by that I mean that if I know I will enter an unfamiliar situation or perhaps face something that worries me, My mind will mull over every possible permutation of what may happen if I do or don't do X or Y etc.).
I do this too. I've commented before on this forum that this what is meant when the experts say we have an impaired imagination. It doesn't mean we lack imagination as many simple minded people have written. Sometimes I'm not frightened by things that would scare most people because my imagination works differently.
"Ben X" honored at Montreal film festival
http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNew...2520070904
By Norma Reveler
MONTREAL (Hollywood Reporter) - "Ben X," Belgian director Nic Balthazar's portrait of a mildly autistic boy bullied at school, took top honors at the 31st annual Montreal World Film Festival, which wrapped Monday.
Balthazar's directorial debut earned the audience award and shared the juried Grand Prix of Americas prize as the top festival film with French director Claude Miller's "A Secret," the tale of Jewish family during and after World War II.
"Ben X," which had Canadian and U.S. distributors swirling with buying interest Monday, also grabbed the festival's Ecumenical Prize for combining artistic merit with the exploration of ethical, social and spiritual values.
In the acting categories, Filipe Duarte and Thomas Almeida, stars of the Portugal/Brazil co-production "The Other Side" by Luis Filipe Rocha, shared the best actor prize, while Andrea Sawatzki, who starred in German director Volker Einrauch's "The Other Boy," got the nod as best actress.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter