Though there are definitely films which depict Autism, almost all of them show viewpoints from the other side. 'Rain Man' and 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape?', though powerful movies, depict Autism through what Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp see in Dustin Hoffman and Leo; 'The Accountant', though great, shows mostly the aftermath of an assassin who learned to cope with and hide his disabilities; 'Life Animated', once again great, is another autistic documentary which shows an overdose of the parents, and Disney Movies making sense to Autists is not new.
Forrest Gump (it's implied) and Temple Grandin are exceptions, though it is clear the viewpoint speaks as a consultant rather than the feeling. This is where my film differs.
I'm not saying my motion picture is better than any of these. Far from it. All these movies are rightfully considered masterpieces and it should stay that way. What I am saying is that no movie which has depicted Autism has simulated what being Autistic feels like. That is exactly where Sanctuary Dream differs.
Whether it's through the story or the technical stuff, Sanctuary Dream goes above and beyond in making sure its audience feels Autistic. The techniques include, but are not limited to -- cinematography and edit cuts which create a sense of constant attack; strong color tints and slightly cheesy acting to give an unreliable narrator quality; and Music which states what could not be verbally or physically told.
Looking at the final result, I am proud to say that Sanctuary Dream is my first feature.
EDIT: Due to only being allowed to review only once for the film, I put all 21 reviews from the website in trivia.
