Autism - The Musical | 
 enlarge | Director: Tricia Regan
Actors: Neal Scanlan Studio, Lexington Juvenile Precision Team, Elaine Hall, Adam, Henry
Studio: DOCURAMA
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $13.36
You Save: $13.59 (50%)
New (33) Used (4) from $13.36
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 5624
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 93
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: NNVG109471
UPC: 767685109472
EAN: 0767685109472
ASIN: B0012XIGZ0
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW AND FACTORY SEALED!
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
It's hard to imagine an unlikelier feel-good documentary than the uplifting Autism: The Musical. Directed for HBO by Tricia Regan, but truly the brainchild of the vision--and sheer will--of Elaine Hall, the film is both unflinching in its portrayal of autism, and triumphant in the ways it shows connections among the film's subjects. For those dealing with autism--and as the diagnosis grows more common, that would be nearly everyone--this film is enlightening, engaging, and reaffirming. The film chronicles the first theater arts endeavor of the L.A.-based Miracle Project, the creation of Hall ("Coach E"), a playwright and the single mother of Neal, a nearly speechless autistic boy. Through networking, Hall has met a group of parents of children with an enormous range of autistic symptoms and decides to try a workshop in which the children will, in a matter of months, be cohesive enough to perform in a stage production. The film follows Hall from the initial (and skeptical) meetings of the parents, and introduces the several children followed throughout the rehearsal period. Part of the disarming strength of the film is that it changes its perspective on showing the children's personalities. Viewers first meet 14-year-old Lexi when she's singing a musically complex Joni Mitchell song, in a clear, absolutely lovely soprano, in what appears to be a regular singing lesson. Only later do we learn that Lexi, diagnosed with autism as a toddler, has a hard time originating her own speech--though hearing her sing, the viewer would never have guessed. (Her parents still struggle with Lexi's condition, with her mother alternating between frustration and despair, and her father calmly saying, "It's not up to us to judge the quality of her life.") Other kids with behavioral issues or communication challenges are among the cast members, and the early scenes show a barely-controlled chaos that clearly mirrors the daily lives of the parents. The toll of dealing with their children is shown, as marriages break up and friendships are strained. Yet love blossoms in the most unlikely places, as Hall shows midway through the film. By the triumphant finale, the viewer is as invested in the children's lives as the parents, and the performances, while perhaps not what one would have expected at the beginning, present nothing short of a true "Bravo!" moment. As the kids sing, "Take a chance--get to know the real me." --A.T. Hurley
Product Description
AUTISM: THE MUSICAL follows the extraordinary acting coach Elaine Hall five children with autism and their parents as they heroically mount a full-length original stage production. Through trial and error tears and laughter these incredible families learn to communicate their feelings in song and performance finding solace and joy in the act of creating.A veritable feast of astounding breakthroughs this spellbinding film offers a full-throated celebration of kids living with an increasingly prevalent disorder. Director Tricia Regan vividly captures the individual personalities and problems of each child from precocious Henry who talks a mile-a-minute about dinosaurs to Neal a sensitive and articulate boy who nonetheless struggles to speak at all. The parents too are fascinating studies in unconditional love especially Elaine the mastermind behind the musical and mother of Neal.A consciousness-raising and empathetic portrait of children and their families living with autism AUTISM: THE MUSICAL celebrates the spark of humanity in each of us. "Moving dramatic therapeutic and unburdened by reliance on talking heads" (Variety) this film will change the way you look at autism.System Requirements:Running Time: 93 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/BIOGRAPHY UPC: 767685109472 Manufacturer No: NNVG109471
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
I Love this movie June 27, 2008
I saw this movie in at a theatre long before it came out on HBO because I don't take cable. I laughed, I cried, I was completely taken by this movie. I left deeply moved and went right home after seeing it and emailed the makers of the movie to let me know when it was available for sale. They emailed me and I bought it. It still makes me laugh, cry and moves me beyond belief. I love this movie and highly recommend it if you know or love someone who has autism, or is the parent of a person with autism, works with people with autism or just want to know a little more about how it effects any of these people.
fantastic June 1, 2008
If you're looking for a musical to watch for entertainment, this probably isn't what you're looking for. This is a wonderful documentary where I learned more about the life of those living with autism: both the child and his/her family. The woman who is putting on the musical with this wonderful group of autistic children does an amazing service to the kids, their families, and all who watch this film.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful May 30, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I just saw this today and was very moved by. As someone with Asperger's Syndrome/High-functioning autism it was nice to see my fellow aspies and auties portrayed in such a loving light. I highly recommend this to everyone.
Inspiring! You will love these kids. May 26, 2008
As a mom of a child with autism, I was eager to see this film after it was released. I have since seen it 4 times. The first viewing was at an autism conference in a room with a few hundred parents and family members of individuals with autism. To say it was breathtaking is an understatement. We were all on the edges of our seats, laughed, cried, nodded our heads and glanced at our fellow viewers throughout the film with looks that said, "Uh huh. Me too. Us too. I know how that feels. We've been there." I can only say "thank you" to all those involved with this sweet, sad, sensitive and realistic view of the autism experience. Bravo to those who made this happen. And to the brave and gorgeous children featured, my your paths be paved with magic and peace.
Wow. This is wicked good. May 24, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I am the mother of an an almost 5 year old autistic boy, and I had been itching to see Autism: The Musical. Now that I have, I am so touched and amazed by what went into that film. I liked the fact that she did not hide the difficulties these children can have, but she still showed that they are so much more than just that (a fact that can easily be forgotten when the child has a meltdown at the grocery store). I also liked that the director unflinchingly showed just how angry and frustrated that we parents can become, and that that anger and frustration has its roots in the fact that we are fiercely protective of ours and we fear what happens if we are not here. At the same time, those kids were amazing and fantastic and she showed it. Adam is a little ladies man in the making, Lexi has a lovely singing voice, Henry and Wyatt are just absolute stars, and maybe the reason Neal does not talk is simply because the rest of us don't speak angel yet. Everyone should watch this.
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