Temple Grandin - Movie Review

Temple Grandin (Claire Danes) was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4, with no speech or social skills. While the doctor recommended institutionalization, her mother (Julia Ormond) instead decided to teach Temple herself. Determined to make Temple a part of the world, she spent her days engaging Temple in order to help her learn what other children pick up naturally. She fought to get Temple to fit in, to be like everyone else and succeed.

As Temple ages, she begins to spent time at her aunt's (Catherine O'Hara) house during the summer, helping around the farm. Her aunt was much more accepting of Temple and her quirkiness, helping her to change the world instead of forcing her to change.

Throughout the movie, we see the world as Temple sees it. The literal pictures that come to mind when someone tells her 'a door opens' for her, the visualization of angles and measurements, the sensory nightmares that she faces everyday.

Temple not only graduates with a Bachelor's Degree, but earned a Master's and a Doctorate in Animal Science. In the process, she runs into people that want to help her as well as those who want her to fail. She succeeds regardless of what others think; perhaps her lack of understanding of others serving as an asset. Temple (and those around her) learn that you don't have to fit in to be successful. Currently, she is an accomplished speaker, writer, Professor of Animal Science. Her understanding of prey animals - which she explains is due to her autism - leads her to success in designing livestock-handling equipment - used in over 50% of cattle ranches nationwide. She is still a consult for livestock-handling equipment for several companies including Burger King, McDonald's and Swift.

Temple is living proof that autism has its' advantages - it's not just about difficulties. As her mother says, "Different, not less."

Temple has said that the movie does a great job of showing what her life was like, and that says something in itself. With so little known about autism, even less about what autistics feel and experience, Temple is showing the world how it affects them - and more importantly - ways to overcome the negatives.

Movie Information on IMDB.
Temple Grandin's website.
HBO's Temple Grandin.