TEMPLE GRANDIN DVD (2010)

SYNOPSIS: "Temple Grandin" paints a picture of a young woman's perseverance and determination while struggling with the isolating challenges of autism at a time when it was still quite unknown. The film chronicles Temple's early diagnosis; her turbulent growth and development during her school years; the enduring support she received from her mother (Ormond), aunt (O'Hara), and her science teacher (Strathairn); and her emergence as a woman with an innate sensitivity and understanding of animal behavior.

MOVIE REVIEW:

‘People are always looking for the single magic bullet that will totally change everything. There is no single magic bullet.’ – Temple Grandin

Not many people this side of the world may have heard of Temple Grandin, but the lady is probably one of the shining examples of the extraordinary talents that people with autism possess, which are often overlooked simply because we cannot get past what we term their disability. Temple however adapted to our way of relating with people, just so she can champion our understanding of autism, and also show us that these unique individuals can be capable of remarkable achievements through their way of relating and understanding the world around them.

She did this by example, changing the way American treated its beef cattle through the design of humane slaughterhouses which the industry first rejected and subsequently embraced for their cost-savings. It wasn’t an easy journey, made doubly hard by the fact that one, she was a woman in a male-dominated business; and two, she was autistic. But the very fact that she was autistic was also the reason why she managed to make such a breakthrough, her distinctive vision and hypersensitivity allowing her to be attuned to finer animal sensibilities that even the handlers who have spent their whole lives on cattle ranches have ignored.

Hers is a wonderful story of triumph over adversity, and director Mick Jackson as well as his writer Christopher Monger have done an excellent task bringing her true story to the small screen. Yes, we say small screen, because although this has every right to be one of those Oscar-worthy dramas that compete during awards season, it was in fact a HBO Films telemovie which has since gone on to win seven Emmy Awards including the top honour of ‘Outstanding Made for TV Movie’. But this has very bit the big-screen treatment, graced with stars like Claire Danes in the lead role, Julia Ormond as Temple’s mother, Catherine O’Hara as her aunt and David Strathairn as one of Temple’s inspiring mentors.

This is a culmination of some of their finest performances, brought to life by Jackson’s inspired decision at telling the story through Temple’s perspective. In one of the first scenes, we see Temple startled and distressed as she emerges from a plane- the whirr of the propeller, the shouts from the crowd gathered to meet the passengers, and the heat of the Arizona desert overbearing to say the least for her. It’s no secret that autistic people have heightened senses, which make them more sensitive to what are usually ordinary sights and sounds to us, but Jackson allows us to understand it from their perspective through his visual techniques.

His screenwriter Monger has taken liberty of choosing the significant moments in Temple’s life in this biopic- her first brush with animals from visiting her aunt’s ranch where she not only developed an affinity for cows but designed a squeeze machine to provide a calming effect for her; her time at Franklin Pierce College where the disapproval over her ‘squueze device’ led her to pursue her bachelor’s degree in psychology and later on her time at a ranch for her master’s thesis on animal science at Arizona State University. Through these significant milestones, we see the tenacity of a woman fighting against the perception and even disdain of those around her, and the journey is one that proves immensely fulfilling and tremendously affecting.

In the lead role, Danes gives a tour-de-force performance that has appropriately won her the Emmy for ‘Outstanding Actress in a TV movie or Miniseries’. Her pitch-perfect acting here captures Temple’s quirks beautifully, never showy or caricatured but truthful and honest. It is even more remarkable for how effortlessly Danes shows her character’s gradual assurance as she grows from an upset teenager to a more socially perceptive adult. And when Danes stands up at a conference to challenge the prevailing thinking behind autism as a mental disorder, you feel the personal progress her character has made in overcoming her shortcomings imposed by society.

Kudos then to the entire team of cast and crew alike for avoiding schmaltz to deliver a biopic of true dignity and grace worth of the triumphs and achievements of its subject- as well as an eye-opening look at the world through the eyes of people who are ‘different, but not less’ among us. Like Temple’s own work for autism, it is an important film that deserves to be seen that will change the way you look at these individuals. Not all of them will be as remarkable as Temple; nevertheless in Temple’s words ‘we have got to work on keeping these children engaged with the world’.  

SPECIAL FEATURES:

There is a standard ‘Making Of’ featurette that has cast and crew talking about what attracted them to the film, as well as how important they think it is. You also get a glimpse of the real Dr Grandin, and just this glimpse is enough to convince you what a remarkable job Danes has done in bringing the character to life.

Don’t however miss out on one of the best Audio Commentaries we have heard, by Dr Grandin, director Mick Jackson and screenwriter Christopher Monger. While Jackson and Monger talk about their creative choices in bringing Temple’s story to screen, Temple’s voiceover gives us an excellent insight into what is being portrayed- even the occasional inaccuracy of how it unfolded. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track for the feature film puts the back speakers to good use in bringing out the ambient sounds. Otherwise, most of the dialogue is front and centre. Visuals are lush and colourful, and the visual transfer is excellent.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Gabriel Chong