Mozart and the Whale --A Love Story with Aspies

"This film directed by Petter Naess is a fictional story, but it is inspired by the lives of two real people with Asperger's Syndrome.

The opening scene of this film shows Donald working as a cab driver. He also runs a support group for autistic people. The new member of the group is Isabelle and they start to date. Their first date is for Halloween and gives this film its title.

Josh Hartnett portrays Donald and Radha Mitchell portrays Isabelle. They both have eccentricities and habits which cause problems for their relationship.

This film is funny and touching and filled with colorful, unusual characters including Gracie, the woman who behaves in socially inappropriate ways and was portrayed creatively by Rusty Schwimmer.

Some favorite quotes from this film:

"I save things because you never know. You know?"---Donald

"You said your mom died?You did bury her?...just checking."---Isabelle to Donald

"I'll be there in the morning. I live here."---Donald to Isabelle

"Sweetie, you can't disappoint me. Cause whatever you are, is exactly what I want."---Isabelle

"So when you're sick of him, you can date me?"---Gregory to Isabelle

"There are 200 to 300 million sperm cells in an average ejaculation."---Skeets

"Penguins mate only once a year and it lasts three minutes. I think they're extremely sexy. You wanna know why? I'm only gonna tell you, if you wanna know...When penguins are reunited after a long separation, they stand breast to breast. Their heads are thrown back and their little flippers are trembling and they sing, Skeets, because they're so happy to find each other."---Isabelle

"Izzy, they don't have cabs at the University Medical Center."---Donald

"I used to tell Donald that I wanted people to hear my paintings and see my music 'cause I wanted him to understand them like other people couldn't."---Isabelle

"I have put up with an array of shit from you that no one should tolerate, because I thought that you would do the same for me. But you made me feel like a freak! Behave for your boss? I mean, this is coming from who?---Isabelle

"There's one difference between us, Donald. You want to be normal. You crave it. And that is what broke us up."---Isabelle

"I have a list of friends. Some of them are women."--Gracie

"The only nice thing I had left to give was just not to call."---Donald

Here are some scenes from this film:

Here is the trailer:

My Name is Khan---a different kind of romance & odyssey film

This is a film by director Karan Johar about an Indian Muslim man with Asperger's Syndrome. Viewers see his life as an odd child with a mother who tries her best to guide her son. When he has trouble attending a regular school, she finds him a private tutor. One of his special talents is his ability to repair many items.

After his mother dies, Rizvan (played oddly enough by an actor with the same last name as his character -- Shah Rukh Khan)keeps his promise to her to go to America and reunites with his brother Zakir in San Francisco. He starts selling beauty products to salons.

He meets Mandira, a Indian Hindu (played by Kajol) hairdresser in one of the salons. They become friends, get married and live together happily with her son Sameer.

Tragedy strikes shortly after 9/11 happens and many American Muslims suffer repercussions including Rizvan's new family. Rizvan sets out on a solo journey across the country trying to meet the President.

Along the way, he meets many interesting people and has some adventures. In Georgia, he becomes friends with Funny Hair Joel (played by Adrian Kali Turner) and Mama Jenny (played by Jennifer Echols). When he hears that their little town has been flooded by a hurricane, he returns to help them.

This film has multiple spoken languages: English, Hindi, Arabic and Urdu. In some ways, I think it's quite exaggerated, a bit corny sometimes but also touching and funny. As there's some flipping back and forth in time since the character is telling a story, be sure to pay attention so you don't get confused.

Also beware of the violence & racism in this film  This isn't gratuitous like in some films but an important part of the plot.

Some quotes from this film:

"My name is Khan and I'm not a terrorist."---Rizvan

"Oh, I think you recognized me. I am Rita Singh, ex-Miss India."---manager of salon

"You look so old. You must have been Miss India before I was born."---Rizvan

"A salesman and yet you speak the truth."---Mandira

"Mom, stop being filmy now. You're such a drama queen."---Sameer

"Fix Almost Anything"---Rizvan's sign

"...the way of Allah is of love, not of hatred and war."---Rizvan

Conversation:

"Mehnaz Herbal Beauty Products will make you glow like a newly-wed bride."---Rizvan to woman

"I'm divorced."--woman to Khan

"Uh-oh. We have nothing for the newly-divorced."---Rizvan

Here are some scenes from this film:

Here's the trailer:

Clay Marzo Just Add Water -- Cool Surfer Film

I've never been big on watching ski or surf movies, but it's pretty amazing watching Clay Marzo surf! He seems to be able to ride waves for a long time without wiping out. That's awesome!

There's also something else about this surfing film that makes it very unique. In 2007, Clay was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Input from others who know him is that he seems more together since the diagnosis. Like many people with AS, he has a specialty and it's surfing! It's very unusual because people with AS seem to usually have an intellectual specialty instead of an athletic one.

Australian Asperger's Syndrome expert Tony Attwood has a few things to share as well as Austism expert Dr. Chitra Bhakta.

There is some wonderful footage of Clay and other surfers surfing not only in California and Hawaii but other places in the world such as Fiji and France.

Included is footage of the Surfer's Healing Camp in Malibu where kids with Autism get to experience the joy of surfing. Clay works with the kids there.Clay Marzo has his own website where you can see more interesting videos.

If you're interested in knowing about other films related to Autism, check out my review on The Horse Boy.

My Favorite Quote From this Film:

"I feel like I'm at home when I'm in the water. Waves are toys from God."---Clay


Here are a few scenes from this film:

Here's the trailer for this film: