HBO movie on Temple Grandin - autism related

[SueM in MN]

If you have HBO, this sounds like a great movie, beginning to air tonight (Feb 6, 2010) on HBO.
Biography of Temple Grandin

I have read Temple Grandin's fascinating books and am looking forward to watching it. She is a woman with autism who has used her different view of the world to do some unlikely sounding things. She has been involved in humane treatment of animals for many years and has designed most of the animal handling facilities in the US.

 

[Tiggerish]

I heard her interviewed on the public radio station this week. It was so interesting that I sat in the car in grocery store parking lot for 10 minutes before going in so I could finish hearing the whole thing.

 

[Schmeck]

I have always wanted to read her books, but haven't had the chance yet. One thing that has puzzled me - didn't she create the chute system that leads the cattle to slaughter? That just seemed so ironic to me - the animals get funneled in a 'humane' way to their slaughter. I would think they'd smell the blood/death beforehand, and no matter how pleasant the chute system was, they'd know something was up...

I hope she's portrayed in an honest way - youngest daughter just came home from seeing 'Dear John', and was not impressed by the father's portrayal as an older man with autism. Not sure what bothered her, as I haven't had a chance to see a movie in a long time, but she thought it just rang rather false/fake.

 

[Tiggerish]

Thanks so much for the heads up on this movie being on. It just finished and it was amazing.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have always wanted to read her books, but haven't had the chance yet. One thing that has puzzled me - didn't she create the chute system that leads the cattle to slaughter? That just seemed so ironic to me - the animals get funneled in a 'humane' way to their slaughter. I would think they'd smell the blood/death beforehand, and no matter how pleasant the chute system was, they'd know something was up...

She developed ways to handle cattle in feed lots and also in slaughterhouses.
It does seem ironic, but she knew the animals were being killed and were being terrorized by the way they were handled. She said that if people were going to kill the animals, they did not need to be barbaric about it.
She writes in her book that the same things that bothered cattle bothered her (shiny things that caught the attention, anything that broke a pattern) and she designs things that avoid those things.
She also saw by observing cattle that they tend to circle and used that to her advantage in designs. The old chutes were all straight and had bars on the sides that the cattle could see through. The ones she designs have curves that the cattle follow around. They don't get terrorized because the facility is designed to keep them at ease.

I hope she's portrayed in an honest way - youngest daughter just came home from seeing 'Dear John', and was not impressed by the father's portrayal as an older man with autism. Not sure what bothered her, as I haven't had a chance to see a movie in a long time, but she thought it just rang rather false/fake.

It was very well done.
People who have not seen Temple Grandin interviewed may think the portrayal was over the top, but I think Claire Danes did a remarkable job of portraying her.

 

[codimouse]

as a mom of a DD who lives with autism i appreciate any positive light we can shine on this.

 

[KirstenB]

We don't get HBO, but maybe we can order this movie later. I know she's written several books, and that's an option too. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[TheZue]

It was so so good. I cried at a couple points. The first being when her science teacher was talking to her mom, and again at the end when she was at the national atism conference. It was VERY well done.

 

[Schmeck]

She developed ways to handle cattle in feed lots and also in slaughterhouses.
It does seem ironic, but she knew the animals were being killed and were being terrorized by the way they were handled. She said that if people were going to kill the animals, they did not need to be barbaric about it.
She writes in her book that the same things that bothered cattle bothered her (shiny things that caught the attention, anything that broke a pattern) and she designs things that avoid those things.
She also saw by observing cattle that they tend to circle and used that to her advantage in designs. The old chutes were all straight and had bars on the sides that the cattle could see through. The ones she designs have curves that the cattle follow around. They don't get terrorized because the facility is designed to keep them at ease.

It was very well done.
People who have not seen Temple Grandin interviewed may think the portrayal was over the top, but I think Claire Danes did a remarkable job of portraying her.

thanks Sue - her books are on my reading list for this summer (the only time now that I have to read books for pleasure) and from what you've described, I can't wait to read them!

Glad to hear that the movie was well done.

 

[mickeymom1]

Just wanted to thank you for the heads up on the movie last night. I thought it was a great movie.

The end part at the autism conference was the most powerful part for me. When Temple spoke about always having high expectations set for her and being expected to follow rules even though she had autism it made my heart melt because I know the courage and determination that her mom must have had to raise such a remarkable daughter. And my favorite line was that she was different, but not less.

 

[saveaquarter]

I can't wait to watch this (thank goodness for OnDemand) but I do have a question for those of you who've seen it. Are there any graphic scenes that depict cattle slaughter? If they do skirt that particular part, how closely do they? My husband is super sensitive about that, and I'm just wondering whether I should screen it beforehand or if it'd be safe for us to watch together.

 

[TheZue]

I don't know how much you know about cattle slaughter, but I didn't find it very graphic. They show the device that puts the killing blow in the head, then they show the cow being hung from behind a curtain.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't know how much you know about cattle slaughter, but I didn't find it very graphic. They show the device that puts the killing blow in the head, then they show the cow being hung from behind a curtain.

There is no blood in the killing sequences.
There are some dead animal bodies shown and there is a scene where you see an animal die in a dipping pit (they dip the cows to kill insects) when they come onto the feed lot.
They also show her high school science teacher's funeral.

 

[saveaquarter]

I don't know how much you know about cattle slaughter, but I didn't find it very graphic. They show the device that puts the killing blow in the head, then they show the cow being hung from behind a curtain.

There is no blood in the killing sequences.
There are some dead animal bodies shown and there is a scene where you see an animal die in a dipping pit (they dip the cows to kill insects) when they come onto the feed lot.
They also show her high school science teacher's funeral.

Thank you both, that's a really big help. My concern isn't blood, just that all of my husband's empathy is poured into animals, and seeing them die is too much for him to handle. I can see him watching this and refusing to eat for weeks, lol. If it weren't for his dietary needs, he would be a vegetarian.

I think I'm going to watch it beforehand and have him leave the room during the offending scenes. Thanks again!

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

I had the pleasure to meet Ms. Grandin and have lunch with her a couple years ago when she gave a training presentation for the Maine Dept of Agriculture and slaughter houses in Maine regarding humane handling of animals during the slaughter process.

She is a fascinating woman and a delight to speak with, highly intelligent and passionate about her work. I just want to say that Claire Danes the actress who portrayed her did a wonderful job.

P.S. she still wears those western shirts

 

[lucigo]

I loved the movie, had another autism family over and we all watched it together. If you haven't seen it, there is a BBC special on her on youtube...just search for "woman who thinks like a cow" and it should come up. Its really good. I would love to make it to a conference and listen to her speak!

 

[SueM in MN]

I loved the movie, had another autism family over and we all watched it together. If you haven't seen it, there is a BBC special on her on youtube...just search for "woman who thinks like a cow" and it should come up. Its really good. I would love to make it to a conference and listen to her speak!

Yes, that BBC video is very good.

 

[SueM in MN]

Someone sent me this link to a recent talk by Temple Grandin. It's really interesting to hear her ideas.

 

[lucigo]

Thanks so much for the link, very interesting!!!

 

[kampfirekim]

In response to Codimouse, I am also a mom with a child living with Autism. My DS 5 was diagnost last summer. It may not feel at times like there are any positives, but I have found that there are more positives than negatives. I have learned a lot and have grown so much while going through the challenges of raising a child with Autism. Every day is an adventure with DS, but the key for me has been focusing on his strengths and what he can do instead of what he can't. DS has the most amazing sense of humor, and he manages to communicate it with very little speech. His smile can light up a room. He has taught me to appreciate the small things, every new word , every new milestone however slow the progress is. Hang in there and know that your child has the same needs and wants as any other child and no matter how hard it seems at the time it does getter better.