After Thomas (2006)

PASSER BY: "Disgraceful behaviour!"KYLE'S MOTHER: "What, you staring at a disabled child having a fit? I agree!"Kyle is a lost cause. Born with a very severe case of autism, he can barely communicate... apart from repeating parrot-like what he hears. He often rehashes these phrases in the most inappropriate situations, much to the amusement of everyone except his mum and dad. He throws random temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He still wears nappies at the age of 6. He has no comprehension of the emotional needs of others. His only outlet in life is his obsession with trains.His parents are at their wits end. They've sent him to a special needs day school, but progress is frustratingly slow. The father wants to pack him off to a specialist unit 5 days and nights a week, but mother is desperate for him to have a chance in the real world. Mum is sick of having no social life, while dad is seriously considering an affair with a family friend. Things look bleak. Then, they decide to get a dog... And everything changes.After Thomas is a wonderful film, the best I've seen this year so far. Every detail, from the little picture cards Kyle has to examine to understand what he has to do, to his tendency to walk up and down in a straight line for hours, rings true. The little actor they have to play this part is perfect. This is no sugar-coated Hollywoodised view of a handicap... living with this child is a chore, and would test the patience of a saint.Then along comes Thomas, named after Kyle's favourite Tank Engine. He doesn't really bond with the canine straightaway... but gradually, an eternal friendship is forged. Thomas helps him open up, and what started out as a hopeless situation becomes a journey of discovery for him and his parents, as they see more and more of their son every day. The scene where he calls them Mum and Dad for the first time is such a tearjerker, you'll want to reach for the toilet paper product that Thomas's breed also advertises.Few films earn the title Life Affirming. This one surely does. 8/10

With Goodnight Mister Tom and Appropriate Adult, this was another one of those television made dramas that really gripped me, and it managed to convince me that it was like a real film. Basically six year old Kyle Graham (introducing Andrew Byrne) is a boy who suffers a severe form of Autism, one that took two years to diagnose, and it causes him to be terrified of many things in everyday life, he has no close friends, but more than anything he cannot communicate properly. The many traumas and tantrums of Kyle have caused his parents, Nicola (Keeley Hawes) and Rob (Ben Miles) a lot of stress as he needs constant care, and they cannot get through to him, as he escapes into his own world of obsessions, such as trains and watching Thomas the Tank Engine. Trying to break through to him has caused friction in the marriage as well, Rob suggests placing Kyle in a special boarding school for autistic children, but Nicola loves him to much and wants him to grow up as part of society and try to learn the skills he needs at home. The social workers try to help as best as they can, and Nicola does get good moral support from her mother, 'Granny' Pat (Sheila Hancock) and father 'Grandpa' Jim (Duncan Preston), but they need a way to bring Kyle out of his shell. Nicola decides to try and see if Kyle can find connection with a new pet dog, so she brings a golden retriever puppy home and he does give him a name, Thomas, after the train and his favourite character. As time goes by Nicola and Rob see their son developing some communication through his affection for Thomas the dog, and they are smiling as he does show signs of improving. There is also a point when Rob has the idea to speak their feelings, through the dog, and they use this to stop Kyle from misbehaving and having tantrums. Nicola does find at one point that Thomas, now fully grown, may be becoming more prominent in Kyle's world, and he does kick the dog at one point in a moment of anger, and then there is the tragedy of Pat dying. After initially looking like Thomas may be lost after the kicking when he may have to be put down, he recovers, and Nicola and Rob are so happy when Kyle, speaking through the dog, tells them that he loves his mummy. Also starring Asa Butterfield as Andrew, Clive Mantle as John Havers, Lorraine Pilkington as Rachel and Noma Dumezweni as Paula Murray. Keeley gives a very emotional performance as the mother trying to cope with her disabled child, Miles is also great as the sympathetic and affectionate father, and of course young Byrne gives an extraordinary performance as the boy who makes small break through in his social interaction, and the dog is adorable as well. Being based on a true story, the events are very realistic and well played out, I can empathise and relate to the situation, I suffer a form of Autism myself and I know how difficult it can be sometimes, this is a brilliant drama. Very good!

As a mum of two sons with autism, I think this excellent drama will go a long way to raising awareness. It's the most accurate portrayal I've seen of the reality of autism. The lives of the child with autism and their parents revolve around their heightened sensitivity, unrelenting fears and extreme reaction to sight, sound and touch. It was moving too that the drama acknowledged the enormous strain it places on relationships, because our whole time is devoted to caring and helping to expand their knowledge and vocabulary. It was handled sensitively, without being overly melodramatic or intense, and for all the painful moments there were some lovely uplifting ones too. I felt the writers had shown integrity with the script and really taken time to get it right. I hope it will be shown again and even win some awards.

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.