Autism Plays Itself
/Directed by Janet Harbord
/Associate Producer Chloe White
/Short Documentary
/2023 (20 mins)
A film shot in 1957 in at the Maudsley Hospital, London, captures the movements and behaviour of children under observation for atypical behaviour. In the present day, three autistic respondents watch the footage, bringing new insightful interpretations of the children’s behaviour as they explore the sparse environment of the clinic. Through speculation and identification, with wit and audacity, the responses forge a new soundtrack from an autistic point of view. As the film evolves, it takes on the rhythms and repetitions of the children’s activities, becoming a playful homage to the body language of autism.
OFFICIAL SELECTION:
Hot Docs Documentary Festival 2024
Krakow Film Festival 2024