SON-RISE, A MIRACLE OF LOVE
US, 1979, 100 minutes, Colour.
James Farentino, Kathryn Harrold, Stephen Elliott.
Directed by Glenn Jordan.
A moving, well written American style telemovie. It focuses on the true story of Barry and Susan Kaufman and their autistic child Raun. In its brief running time, the film focuses on the problems of autism, the reactions of parents, families having to cope with a seemingly withdrawn and retarded child, the possibilities in State institutions. The film opts for the parents dealing intensely and interpersonally with their withdrawn child and drawing him out into the ordinary world.
The film has an authentic air about it and the screenplay was co-written with the parents. It is a plea for sympathy for autistic children and an urging disheartened parents to persevere with loving their children into an ordinary way of life. James Farentino and Kathryn Harrold are impressive as the parents. Direction is by Glen Jordan, a prolific telemovie director of the late seventies: Les Miserables, The Women's Room, In The Matter Of Karen Ann Quinlan.
1. The impact of telemovies for the home audience? Seriousness of themes, the quality of audience attention, the impact of real life drama? the telemovie style? adapted for distracted home audiences?
2. The authorship of the parents? The factual basis of the film? the screenplay? How authentic and persuasive? The offering of data about autistic children and their treatment? The sentiment of the title and the truth of the subtitle A Miracle Of Love?
3. The quick introduction to Barry and his successful executive work in advertising? Susie and the other children? The later explanation of their life story to the woman inquiring to fill in the form? Their meeting, romance, marriage, children? their taking in Nancy and making her part of the home? The build-up to the birthday of Raun?
4. Raun growing up, withdrawn baby, the birthday party and his reactions? The discovery of his withdrawn condition? Phe detailed visual presentation of his behaviour? The reaction of parents, family? Barry and his research on autism? Susie and her unwillingness to accept it? The sequences of their visits to doctors, hospitals, institutions?
5. The medical background of autism? Ought parents to fear? Institutions saying Raun was too young for treatment? The impact of the visits to institutions, the seeming cruelty in treatment? The audience's emotional response to this kind of dehumanized treatment of retarded children? The pathos and its effect on Barry and Susie?
6. Raun and his behaviour, the dramatising of the symptoms, his living in an inner world, his being mesmerized by repetitious motion? his own actions?
7. Susie and her decision to help, their deciding to keep a log of the therapy, Susie's dedication in terms of time, perseverance? The detail of their working together? Her sharing his behaviour and actions? The hope giving energy? Barry and his observations? Nancy and her being asked to help? The two sisters and their reactions from taunting school children, their participating in the therapy?
8. The gradual improvement, the joy for the family? Traces of communication? The gradual breakthrough and the alertness of Raun? The filming of his activities? The petitions for further treatment and the reasons for their rejection?
9. Raun's relapse and further withdrawal, the pain for his parents, their perseverance in starting again?
10. The repetition of the process and Raun's coming back into the ordinary world?
11. The final sequence of his playing in the park, the contact with the retarded child and Raun's being affirmed as ordinary and normal?
12. The film's communicating the reality of the autistic child's world, the anguish for parents? The dedication and love of parents and love being the major healing therapy? The worth of the sentiment in the film? Did the film avoid sentimentality? The moral impact of this kind of film and the encouragement and morale-boosting for parents in similar situations?
