Review of Temple Grandin Biopic Starring Claire Danes

"Temple Grandin" starring Claire Danes is a must-see video. Not only is it a compelling biopic, it's also a wonderful introduction to the inner world of high functioning autism. This film is recommended for personal viewing, and also for any program or event where adults are interested in better understanding what it means to be autistic.

Actress Claire Danes won a 2011 Golden Globe award for her portrayal of Temple Grandin in this HBO biopic, among the first to portray a real-life individual with autism with realism and compassion. Temple Grandin is a Ph.D. in animal husbandry and an international spokesperson for the autism community. The video portrays Grandin's struggles to fit into a "neurotypical" world, and uses a variety of visual techniques to interpret the autistic worldview to a general audience.

It's really impossible to say too much about this production's writing, production values or acting. The creators of the film worked directly with Grandin to better understand her history, her thought processes, and her life experiences, and do a wonderful job of presenting not only Grandin's personal history but also her significant challenges and impressive talents. Perhaps most significantly, the film has done an extraordinary job of opening the public's eyes to what autism really is - the good and the bad.

"Temple Grandin" stars Claire Danes as Temple herself, Julia Ormond as her dedicated and often overwhelmed mother, Catherine O'Hara as Temple's supportive Aunt Catherine, and David Strathairn as Temple's high school mentor. The story begins as Temple starts her challenging journey through high school, where she meets a teacher and mentor who not only understands but supports and encourages her. In college, Temple faces new challenges - but also designs and constructs a device called the "squeeze machine" which provides her with sensory input and helps her to calm and focus. Finally, the film documents her struggles - both as a woman and as a person with autism - to earn her Ph.D. and gain respect in the field of agriculture and animal handling. Her unique autistic perspective provided her with insights into the "eyes" of cattle, allowing her to design a humane (and efficient) system for cattle management.

Over the years, Dr. Grandin has become a major international figure, speaking at autism conferences and writing many books on her unique perspectives and insights. Her books about "visual thinking" have been brought to life through this remarkable film.