By Nils Skudra Three years ago, I watched Septembers of Shiraz, a 2015 film directed by Wayne Blair which portrays an affluent Jewish family in Tehran whose lives are profoundly changed by the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Starring Adrien Brody and Salma Hayek-Pinault, the film focuses on Isaac Amin, …

By Nils Skudra This week, I had the opportunity to watch After Thomas, a heartfelt 2006 film based on the true story of Kyle Graham (Andrew Byrne), a young British boy with severe autism whose close bond with his Golden Retriever enables him to develop emotional connections with his parents. The fi…

By Nils Skudra This weekend, I had the opportunity to watch Rescued by Ruby, a heartwarming biographical drama about Daniel O’Neil, a Rhode Island State Trooper who adopts Ruby, a hyperactive half-Border Collie, and trains her to be a K9 search and rescue dog. I felt this film was especially compel…

By Nils Skudra Recently I had the opportunity to watch The World’s Fastest Indian, a 2005 biographical sports drama starring Anthony Hopkins in the role of Burt Munro, an eccentric speed bike racer from Invercargill, New Zealand, who set multiple land speed records for motorcycles with engines less…

By Nils Skudra This past weekend, I had the opportunity to watch Craig Gillespie’s Lars and the Real Girl, a heartwarming romantic comedy/drama about Lars Lindstrom, a socially awkward young man who orders a life-size female doll for companionship and treats it as a real person. The film provides an…

By Nils Skudra This week I had the opportunity to watch “I Can”, a faith-based film based on the true story of Katelyn Pavey, a young girl born with only one fully formed arm who pursues her passion for softball in the face of adversity, with the encouragement of her parents. As a disabi…

In 2010 HBO’s biopic Temple Grandin won five Emmys. Claire Danes won for Best Actress for her portrayal of Grandin. By Nils Skudra Among the autism-themed films that I have seen, one of the most outstanding biographical depictions is the 2010 HBO film Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes as t…

by Nils Skudra Recently I had the opportunity to watch A Man Called Otto, a heartwarming comedy-drama starring Tom Hanks as Otto, a grumpy and bitter retiree who routinely insults his neighbors and enforces the traffic rules of his condominium neighborhood until he is befriended by an immigrant fami…

By Nils Skudra One of the most compelling musical films that relates to neurodiversity and social anxiety is Dear Evan Hansen, a 2021 adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical about an isolated high school senior who becomes the motivational force behind a campaign for mental health awareness fol…

The Father was nominated for six Academy Awards including best picture and best actor. By Nils Skudra Last night I had the opportunity to watch The Father, a powerful psychological drama directed by Florian Zeller which revolves around the relationship between a middle-aged daughter and her elderly …

By Nils Skudra This morning I had the opportunity to watch My Name is David, a compelling short film featuring the actual words of David Shapiro Sharif (May 28, 1997 – April 23, 2022), a young autism advocate who recently died suddenly at the age of 24. Made in Claymation, the film provides a…

Infinitely Polar Bear articulates an encouraging message about the ability of neurodivergent individuals to be successful parents, a goal they can achieve through love and support from their partners and from their children. By Nils Skudra This week I had the opportunity to watch Maya Forbes’ 2014 p…

Since it is very difficult for people with disabilities to make successful inroads in the film industry, where disabled characters tend to be represented by non-disabled actors, Falk’s example can hopefully inspire members of the disability community today to pursue their aspirations of career succe…

A movie review of the 1986 film Children of A Lesser God By Nils Skudra This weekend I had the opportunity to watch Children of a Lesser God, a beautiful 1986 film about a romance between a hearing teacher and a young deaf woman working at a school for the deaf and hearing-impaired. I felt that thi…