Product Description

AUTISM: THE MUSICAL follows the extraordinary acting coach Elaine Hall five children with autism and their parents as they heroically mount a full-length original stage production. Through trial and error tears and laughter these incredible families learn to communicate their feelings in song and performance finding solace and joy in the act of creating.A veritable feast of astounding breakthroughs this spellbinding film offers a full-throated celebration of kids living with an increasingly prevalent disorder. Director Tricia Regan vividly captures the individual personalities and problems of each child from precocious Henry who talks a mile-a-minute about dinosaurs to Neal a sensitive and articulate boy who nonetheless struggles to speak at all. The parents too are fascinating studies in unconditional love especially Elaine the mastermind behind the musical and mother of Neal.A consciousness-raising and empathetic portrait of children and their families living with autism AUTISM: THE MUSICAL celebrates the spark of humanity in each of us. "Moving dramatic therapeutic and unburdened by reliance on talking heads" (Variety) this film will change the way you look at autism.System Requirements:Running Time: 93 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/BIOGRAPHY UPC: 767685109472 Manufacturer No: NNVG109471

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7724 in DVD
• Brand: NEW VIDEO GROUP INC
• Released on: 2008-05-13
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 93 minutes

Amazon.com
It's hard to imagine an unlikelier feel-good documentary than the uplifting Autism: The Musical. Directed for HBO by Tricia Regan, but truly the brainchild of the vision--and sheer will--of Elaine Hall, the film is both unflinching in its portrayal of autism, and triumphant in the ways it shows connections among the film's subjects. For those dealing with autism--and as the diagnosis grows more common, that would be nearly everyone--this film is enlightening, engaging, and reaffirming. The film chronicles the first theater arts endeavor of the L.A.-based Miracle Project, the creation of Hall ("Coach E"), a playwright and the single mother of Neal, a nearly speechless autistic boy. Through networking, Hall has met a group of parents of children with an enormous range of autistic symptoms and decides to try a workshop in which the children will, in a matter of months, be cohesive enough to perform in a stage production. The film follows Hall from the initial (and skeptical) meetings of the parents, and introduces the several children followed throughout the rehearsal period. Part of the disarming strength of the film is that it changes its perspective on showing the children's personalities. Viewers first meet 14-year-old Lexi when she's singing a musically complex Joni Mitchell song, in a clear, absolutely lovely soprano, in what appears to be a regular singing lesson. Only later do we learn that Lexi, diagnosed with autism as a toddler, has a hard time originating her own speech--though hearing her sing, the viewer would never have guessed. (Her parents still struggle with Lexi's condition, with her mother alternating between frustration and despair, and her father calmly saying, "It's not up to us to judge the quality of her life.") Other kids with behavioral issues or communication challenges are among the cast members, and the early scenes show a barely-controlled chaos that clearly mirrors the daily lives of the parents. The toll of dealing with their children is shown, as marriages break up and friendships are strained. Yet love blossoms in the most unlikely places, as Hall shows midway through the film. By the triumphant finale, the viewer is as invested in the children's lives as the parents, and the performances, while perhaps not what one would have expected at the beginning, present nothing short of a true "Bravo!" moment. As the kids sing, "Take a chance--get to know the real me." --A.T. Hurley

Review
One of the most candid, down-to-earth, organically
inspirational documentaries you ll ever see...an unsentimental, simply photographed chronicle of the autism epidemic that doesn't try to show too much or conceal the rough places. Amazing...extraordinary...it will have audiences cheering long before the final act. --The Boston Globe

Review
Outlining the bewildering challenges faced by autistic kids and their parents, this heartwarming documentary is full of sweetness and hope, and constitutes mandatory viewing for those who aren't familiar with the ups and downs of raising autistic children. --Salon.com

Customer Reviews

I Love this movie
I saw this movie in at a theatre long before it came out on HBO because I don't take cable. I laughed, I cried, I was completely taken by this movie. I left deeply moved and went right home after seeing it and emailed the makers of the movie to let me know when it was available for sale. They emailed me and I bought it. It still makes me laugh, cry and moves me beyond belief. I love this movie and highly recommend it if you know or love someone who has autism, or is the parent of a person with autism, works with people with autism or just want to know a little more about how it effects any of these people.

fantastic
If you're looking for a musical to watch for entertainment, this probably isn't what you're looking for. This is a wonderful documentary where I learned more about the life of those living with autism: both the child and his/her family. The woman who is putting on the musical with this wonderful group of autistic children does an amazing service to the kids, their families, and all who watch this film.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful
I just saw this today and was very moved by. As someone with Asperger's Syndrome/High-functioning autism it was nice to see my fellow aspies and auties portrayed in such a loving light. I highly recommend this to everyone.