Mozart and the Whale
Media Review: Mozart and the Whale
Mozart and the Whale is a movie loosely based on the non-fiction book of the same name written by Jerry Newport. The main characters are Donald, played by Josh Hartnet, and Isabelle played by Radha Mitchell. The film follows the two main characters as they meet and build a relationship. It focuses on the normal ups and downs of a typical romance that is compounded by the fact that the lovers both have Asperger's Syndrome. Asperger's Syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder similar to Autism. Persons with Asperger's share some of the same traits as those with Autism. For example they may lack the proper social skills when interacting with others, they prefer routine, and often react negatively to change. Asperger's is a lifelong challenge for the person, but many adults learn ways to cope with their disorder and learn to accept their weaknesses and focus on their strengths. Our leading man Donald is a laid back taxi driver who runs a support group for other people with social disorders. He lives by himself with his free roaming pet parrots. His apartment is dirty, and full of old news papers that he collects. He is a lonely individual. His life is forever changed when Isabelle, on the advice of her psychiatrist, joins the group. Isabelle is very direct about her feelings and emotions while Donald is quite reserved and never knows exactly how to say what he is feeling. Isabelle comes off as very free-spirited. She is a painter, and a hairdresser and is not afraid to take risks, and is non-apologetic about her social akwardness. She seems to really have accepted her eccentricities as something she cannot, nor wants to change. Donald on the other hand deeply desires the ability to act "normal". Our first conflict arises when Isabelle decides to surprise Donald by cleaning his apartment. Although she does not throw any of his news papers away she moves them out of the living room and organizes them in
Mozart and the Whale is a movie loosely based on the non-fiction book of the same name written by Jerry Newport. The main characters are Donald, played by Josh Hartnet, and Isabelle played by Radha Mitchell. The film follows the two main characters as they meet and build a relationship. It focuses on the normal ups and downs of a typical romance that is compounded by the fact that the lovers both have Asperger's Syndrome. Asperger's Syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder similar to Autism. Persons with Asperger's share some of the same traits as those with Autism. For example they may lack the proper social skills when interacting with others, they prefer routine, and often react negatively to change. Asperger's is a lifelong challenge for the person, but many adults learn ways to cope with their disorder and learn to accept their weaknesses and focus on their strengths. Our leading man Donald is a laid back taxi driver who runs a support group for other people with social disorders. He lives by himself with his free roaming pet parrots. His apartment is dirty, and full of old news papers that he collects. He is a lonely individual. His life is forever changed when Isabelle, on the advice of her psychiatrist, joins the group. Isabelle is very direct about her feelings and emotions while Donald is quite reserved and never knows exactly how to say what he is feeling. Isabelle comes off as very free-spirited. She is a painter, and a hairdresser and is not afraid to take risks, and is non-apologetic about her social akwardness. She seems to really have accepted her eccentricities as something she cannot, nor wants to change. Donald on the other hand deeply desires the ability to act "normal". Our first conflict arises when Isabelle decides to surprise Donald by cleaning his apartment. Although she does not throw any of his news papers away she moves them out of the living room and organizes them in