Aspies For Freedom

I was watching a miniseries on SBS TV (the Australian foreign-language TV channel) because I was too busy to turn the channel over. I usually have little interest in drama movies, but this drama caught my eye as it had an obviously autistic character in it and it wasn't too absurd or offensive or patronizing, like most media representations of autistic people from English-speaking countries.

The character was Giorgia, who was obviously autistic, even though I didn't notice the word "autism" in any subtitles. She was socially uninterested and expressed a desire to read train timetables when made to listen to poetry by a well-meaning but patronizing NT man who took her on outings from a mental institution (Isn't it sooo embarassing when NTs read poetry at you?).

The Italian movie "The Best of Youth" ("La Meglio Gioventu") was cut into parts to make a miniseries on TV.

Links to info on the movie:

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/bestofyouth
(has picture of Giorgia)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346336/

Thanks for the tip. It's on DVD in the USA.  There's also a 2.6Gb torrent, if you Google long enough, but it has no English subtitles with it.

I've been watching the Tales of the City mini-series recently.  It has a long and intertwining plot, but there's a significant and definite aspie character later on - in the shape of Norman Neal Williams who lives on the roof, and his attempts at a relationship with Mary-Anne.  He can be seen here, on the right...

http://www.aboutgaymovies.info/images/ta...city_1.jpg

While we're on the subject - anyone remember seeing an affinity with Spock in the first series of Star Trek ?  :smile:

I LOVE the Tales of the City books--haven't seen the miniseries.

I've only seen the first disc so far (I have a monthly rental service, for the DVDs I can't download from somewhere). The second disc should be arriving this morning.

I always liken this sort of movie/series as being a bit like (for an aspie) watching an aquarium - beautiful and fluid, full of colourful characters and with all the awkward and dull bits of social interaction left out.  And with character motivations simplified and highlighted, and with background music that "cues" or "signals" the emotional mood of the scene (useful in case we "don't get it").

Oh dear. I just finished watching the second disc.  I won't spoil the plot for those who haven't seen it ... but Norman turns out to be quite unlikable, is no kind of positive role model for aspies at all, the 'aspie stereotype' gets amplified by the series writers for all it's worth, and he ends up getting his 'just deserts' in a quite over-the-top melodramatic manner. Disappointing.

I would read train time tables if someone tried to read poetry to me too.

Unless it was some kind of poetry that I liked (preferably humorous poetry).