Once upon a time a Made-For-TV-Movie was looked down on as an inferior product to any Movie shown in a Cinema: not the real thing. Nowadays that is simply not the case, and in the same words that the remarkable subject of this movie describes herself they are ‘different not less.’ I would venture to dispute that statement and tell Miss Grandin that both this insightful and captivating movie and she are so much more than that.
Temple Grandin was dragged to a Psychiatrist when she was 4 years old and still hadn’t spoken a word yet. A patronizing physician told her mother that her child was autistic and an infantile schizophrenic, and that it was all her fault and as nothing could ever become of the child the best thing would be to have her carted off to an Institution and left there. This was like a red rag to a bull and fired the mother up with such a fierce determination that Temple would have as normal a life as possible. She taught her to speak and to read and to learn and it soon became very clear that she was in fact an exceptionally gifted child. Whilst she didn’t have a conventional concept of grasping even quite mundane everyday things she did possess this remarkable ability in that she saw everything in her mind in pictures, and actually her comprehension went far beyond most other peoples.
At High School the Science Teacher who recognized Temple’s deep perception and her ingenuity that grew from her great love of science nurtured her. Encouraged by visits to her Aunt’s Ranch she also developed an innate desire to work with animals as her ‘gift’ allowed her to understand them so well. And she did what was considered unthinkable for someone like her; she went to College and even got a Master’s Degree and eventually a Doctorate. Putting her ingenious ideas and theories into practice was tough as she encountered so much prejudice, more so because traditionally chauvinistic men dominate her chosen field of Animal Husbandry.
This wonderful heartwarming movie about this exceptional and inspirational woman that overcame some really tough odds and was encouraged by her family to be her true herself and succeed way beyond everyone’s hopes and dreams, was such a joy. Claire Daines as Temple was a revelation as to how stunning an actress she is, and why the Awards bestowed on her for this, were so well deserved. And how come I missed Julia Ormond growing up and suddenly I find she’s a mature woman playing a mother no less, and quite superbly I might add. Third heads up goes to the enigmatic David Strathairn for his touching portrayal of the Science Teacher who cared.
I so rarely watch TV these days that I missed the original screening of this movie. But I do tune in for some Award Shows and when Temple Grandin was nominated for 15 Emmys, of which it walked off with 9, and then Ms. Daines won her Best Actress Golden Globe, I guessed this would be something I would love. And I did. If you also missed it on HBO, then its now out on DVD… go watch it.
P.S. Dr Temple Grandin PhD is currently a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado University and she also lectures in Autism. You can find her on youtube
★★★★★★★★★
Click for Trailer
Click for Trailer
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