Movie time!

Rain Man. A touching story about two brothers, an autistic one played by Dustin Hoffman who inherits 3 million dollars from their father, and a car dealer played by Tom Cruise who’s been estranged from his family. The two brothers go on a cross-country journey after their father’s death. On Netflix.

Mozart & The Whale. Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell star in this romance between a boy and a girl who both have Asperger’s Syndrome.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.> Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, and Mary Steenburgen star in this 1993 movie about family loyalty, sadness and the power of love. On Netflix.

A Mother’s Courage: Talking Back to Autism.This documentary by Fridrik Thor Fridriksson tells the story of a mother who has done everything in her power to help her son. Along they way, she meets other families and hears their unique stories about how they too have been touched by autism.

Autism: The Musical. Following five L.A. children over the course of six months, director Tricia Regan captures the struggles and triumphs of their family lives and observes how this musical production gives the performers a comfort zone in which they can explore their creative sides.

The Horse Boy. This movie chronicles the journey of the Isaacson family as they travel through Mongolia in search of a mysterious shaman who they believe can heal their autistic son. Delving into the world of autism, horses, shamanism, and Mongolia, it tells the story of a family that will go to the ends of the earth to find a way into their son’s life. Directed by Michel Orion Scott, this movie stars Rupert Isaacson and Temple Grandin. On Netflix.

Temple Grandin. Directed by Mick Jackson and starring Claire Danes and Julia Ormond, this HBO movie paints a picture of a young woman’s perseverance and determination while struggling with the isolating challenges of autism at a time when it was still quite unknown. The film chronicles Temple’s early diagnosis; her turbulent growth and development during her school years; the enduring support she received from her mother, aunt and her science teacher; and her emergence as a woman with an innate sensitivity and understanding of animal behavior.

Snow Cake. This 2006 drama focuses on the friendship between a high-functioning autistic woman and a man who is traumatized after a fatal car accident. Directed by Marc Evans, it stars Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Emily Hampshire.

I Am Sam. Directed by Jessie Nelson and starring Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning and Dianne Wiest, this movie follows an autistic man who fights for custody of his 7-year-old daughter, and in the process teaches his cold-hearted lawyer the value of love and family.

*Cred to Reel Life With Jane for the descriptions of the movies <3