After Thomas

Over the last few years I have developed an interest in working with children on the Autistic Spectrum. I have found all forms of Autism to be the most interesting, complex and distressing conditions a child and their family have to experience and cope with.

I watched this film for the first time on TV last night. I thought it was an excellent portrayal of the difficulties experienced by those affected by ASD.

I am hoping that lots of people watched and that peoples insight to the awareness and understanding of Autism is broadened through this superb production.

I remembered seeing After Thomas on the Christmas of 2006 and absolutely adoring it. Finding the tape that we recorded it on while clearing up I sat down to watch it, hoping that my positive memories of it had not changed. Thank goodness those memories were no fluke. After Thomas was amazing. I specifically remember thinking that it was one of the better dramas on that Christmas, and I still think that.

After Thomas looks stunning. You can never go wrong with skillful photography, picturesque scenery and evocative attention to detail, and After Thomas had exactly that. The music was also beautifully composed, never too obtrusive or too little but just right and just the right tone for the drama's mood.

The writing is thoughtful and poignant with Kyle's Kyle loves Mummy really standing out as a line that truly resonates with you emotionally. I also have to credit the story, it is a well paced and beautifully constructed one that anyone can identify with. It is also very affecting, this is not the sentimentality that feels too much or feels preachy, this sentimentality is genuine and written and incorporated so well and carefully that you care for the story and the characters and their predicaments.

Underneath all this though, you do feel a glimmer of hope, the subject matter for After Thomas is a brave one and being autistic myself is one I can personally engage with, and seeing how Kyle behaves it made me think and gave me hope. The acting is wonderful throughout, the dog is adorable and very convincing, and as great as Keeley Hawes, Ben Miles and Shiela Hancock are it was the remarkable performance of Andrew Byrne that moved me most.

Overall, truly amazing and anyone who hasn't seen it yet and plans to, I advise you to have some tissues at the ready, I myself needed more than a few at the end. 10/10 Bethany Cox

as a mother to two autistic boy, this drama brought back reminders of what we have been through and moved me to tears, when kyle said kyle loves mummy, i remembered the time my son came up to me and said he loved me, it made me cry.the laying down in the road is exactly what my son does too, so much of this was our everyday life such a true to life account of life with autism. i think everyone should watch this as it will bring a better understanding and then families like ours will no longer have the prejudices that we face in everyday life. this drama show's there is hope out there for families that feel they are alone and unsure that this is normal behaviour for a autistic kids.

I saw this on TV over the Christmas period.And i've got to say how brilliant this film was.Having an autistic child i was expecting the TV soap opera approach.How wrong was i.

So many things in this hit like a hammer.Situations both myself and my wife have been though.Screaming in the street,People staring in disgust,Trying to buy new shoes.....The list is endless.

Well made and acted.A truly amazing story.This film must be on your 'To watch List'

If only we had a DVD release.

Remember you don't need a wheel chair to be disabled.

I won't elaborate on the plot of "After Thomas" as it's been covered by other reviewers, all of whom (to date) I must heartily agree with. As a drama it was faultless, and must have brought hope to many parents in a similar situation. The acting by all (including the dog) was superb, and Keeley Hawes in particular has proved once again what a magnificently talented actress she is, and that there is no role she cannot tackle. As she did last year in "Under the Greenwood Tree" she teams up again, equally successfully, with Ben Miles, and their performances are just as unmissable. A special tribute has to be paid to Andrew Byrne for his portrayal as the autistic child Kyle. A truly remarkable job for such a young actor.

If this movie does not receive an award of some sort, then there is no justice.