In UK Freeview tonight more 4 7:25pm

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Autism the Musical

Autism: The Musical

Saturday 14 November
7:25pm - 9:30pm
More4

The title and premise imply that this is going to be an uplifting "let's put on a show" chronicle about kids with autism that will have you cheering to the rafters. But Tricia Regan's HBO film is an altogether subtler piece that captures the loneliness and separateness felt by all its contributors, despite the inclusive nature of the Los Angeles-based production they're preparing for. The am-dram project is the brainchild of Elaine and it's her experiences, plus those of the other harried parents, that provide the most affecting moments. Personal tales of depression, failing marriages and rage play out seamlessly alongside snapshots of a challenging six-month rehearsal period. By the end, a standing ovation does seem appropriate - just not for the reasons you'd have initially expected.

Radio Times reviewer - David Brown

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Widescreen

I watched it and thought it was ok.. The kids were fine but some things the parents said were annoying at times. I think it is a positive movie/program.

I was working, and in the end, came in halfway through the program.

I saw a boy talking about the reason why sharks attack surfers. The person who he was talking to would not let him finish his sentences, until he would look into her eyes while he was talking. She would interrupt him, and went to the extent of poking her fingers into his face and pulling it round. When he finally did as she demanded, she complimented him, most condescendingly, on how clever he was.

Next someone else was extolling some analogy of "bean kettles", where environmental factors, vaccines, mercury in fish and a few other spurious "beans" (but not a single gene) would cause the autism "kettle" to fall over.

I watched maybe three minutes. I turned it off.

Did I not give it a fair hearing?

I turned over when they were doing the "holding the autistic kid's hand and helping them type" routine.

Hasn't that been thoroughly enough debunked as snake oil nonsense?

It's not on Freeview. It's available with Freeview. Those who get all the extra channels will have these included automatically

Was seriously cringeworthy

Is this going to show on 4OD or something for a while. Might watch it if I get chance and it shows.