How I Am (Wie Ich Bin) 2008
Distributed by Fanlight Productions, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Georg Zeller
Directed by Ingrid Demetz, Caroline Leitner and Daniel Mazza
DVD, color, 49 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Child Development, Communication, Education, Learning Disabilities, Psychology, Social Work, Autism
Date Entered: 07/15/2009
ALA Notable: ALA.gif
Reviewed by Deborah Provenzano, Suffolk County Community College
This documentary film details a few days in the life and thoughts of Patrick, a severally autistic teenager. The film is in Italian and German with English subtitles. Patrick gives us an honest glimpse into severe autism. He self-regulates very well but is a non-verbal young man. All of the recorded thoughts in this film are his own; he types out his thoughts with the assistance of his mother’s guiding hand, on a computer keyboard. From the very first scene of this film we understand that Patrick realizes and fully comprehends the awesome wonders of the world, but he is unable to enjoy them because his body will not follow what his brain wants him to do. The film poignantly displays Patrick’s awareness that the world does not accept him. His thoughts about the differences in how people and animals interact with him are touching—sadly, he is aware that all people judge him.
This film is suitable for special collections and would be especially useful as a teaching tool to help explain the world in which autistic people live.
Awards
- Audience Award at Dialektus
- Golden Award at the Fourth Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival