Portraits of Emotion
How much do Polish people really know about the autistic spectrum? According to JiM Foundation’s Nationwide Study of Autism Awareness, our understanding is rather superficial, which frequently leads to prejudice, misrepresentation and negative stereotypes. Since can be difficult for neurotypical people to understand how people on the autistic spectrum perceive the world around them, the 8th Review of Autism and Asperger Syndrome Films at Mikro Cinema (30 November – 2 December) aims to help matters.
“We use art to try to turn society’s attention towards people who perceive the world differently,” promise the organisers. This year’s review, forming a part of Autism Awareness Week, includes Sławomir Grünberg’s Portraits of Emotion revealing how fascinating, expressive images can portray emotions and communicate with the world. Max Mayers’ romantic comedy Adam with the outstanding Hugh Dancy in the title roles as a an electronics engineer with Asperger syndrome is a story of love, difficulties in communication and (disrupted) social relationships. The protagonist of Janet Grillo’s Fly Away is Jeanne, a single mother raising a severely autistic daughter Mandy. As Mandy is about to turn 18, Jeanne has to make serious decisions about her future. Another film exploring relationships between parents and their children is the heartwarming Maria’s Journey adapted from the comic by the Spanish illustrator Miguel Gallardo. Matt Fuller’s documentary Autism in Love follows four adults with autism, focusing on love and relationships, while Matt Blick’s Not Forgotten. The Untold Story of Autism in Ukraine reveals the situation faced by people on the autistic spectrum living over our Eastern border. Once again the organisers have also prepared screenings for teenagers to help them overcome problems of a lack of tolerance towards otherness.
The special guests of the event are Ewa Furgał, author of the blog “Girl on the spectrum”, feminist and educator battling discrimination, and director, screenwriter and filmmaker Sławomir Grünberg. Accompanying events include a concert by Piotr Tkaczyk and Witold Ryć and an exhibition prepared by the “Zacisze” Association for Children with Autism, while the Hugo Kołłątaj Pedagogical Voivodeship Library opens its doors to visitors (Barbara Zajac, Karnet magazine).
PROGRAMME:
30 November
5pm Portraits of Emotion, USA 2008
7pm Medeting with Sławomir Grünberg, director, screenwriter and filmmaker
8:30pm ADAM, USA 2009
1 December
4pm Maria's Journey, Spain 2010
6pm Meeting with Ewa Furgał, author of the blog “Girl on the spectrum”
7:30pm FLY AWAY, USA 2011
2 December
4pm NOT FORGOTTEN. THE UNTOLD STORY OF AUTISM IN UKRAINE, USA 2013
5:30pm Autism in Love, USA 201
