Adam

Adam

Have you ever heard of Asperger's Syndrome? Do you know what it is?

For a long time when people have heard the word Autism, or Asperger's Syndrome, it is almost treated like cancer. People think that they are capable of functioning, or even having the basic relationship. The story of Adam cancels out all those factors, and shows that people with Asperger's Syndrome struggle, but are just more open with the child inside.

Starring Hugh Dancy (Confessions of a Shopaholic) as Adam and Rose Bryne (Crazy stalker girl in Wicker Park) as his next-door neighbor and lover named Beth, this movie takes you into their relationship and the ups and downs of it. Adam has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, and people with it therefore show significant difficulties in social interaction, along with stereotypies and other restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. So people with it in fewer words are too smart for themselves. In this case, Adam knows everything there is to know about telescopes and the technology behind it, and about the universe. Beth, his neighbor is a schoolteacher who is aspiring to be a children’s book writer. They start dating and her father disapproves. Her father is a lawyer, and wants her to marry someone who is successful and has lots of money, and Adam at the current moment is far from that. Beth’s Dad faces criminal charges for illegal business that he did, and when Beth needs comfort the most, Adam isn’t there to give it to her. He gets a great job in California, and is asked to leave Manhattan, and wants Beth to come with him. Does Beth leave with him and marry him? Or does she stay and end the relationship?

This movie was very touching for me. Personally, I know people with Asperger's Syndrome, and I can only imagine how hard it is for them in this world. There were many ups and downs throughout this film. There were times where you wanted to bury your head in your hands because you just wish Adam would say the right thing or would know what to do. There were also times when Adam and Beth’s relationship was going just right and you were very happy about it. Then there were times where there was difficulty in communication and it made it hard to watch Adam express his feelings.

All in all I liked this movie. There was no language in the movie until one scene where Adam and Beth fight, and some swearing is involved. Other than that, this movie is as clean as a whistle. I recommend seeing this movie because it can teach us a lot about people with Asperger's Syndrome, and it gives us a good reality check.