The Trouble With Rain Man
September 17, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Karen at the Babble blog Strollerderby writes that “for most of us, our idea of what autism is was deeply shaped by the movie Rainman.” Noting the limitations of the portrayal of autism in that Hollywood film (though consider Professor Stuart Murray’s evaluation of the film vis-à-vis other feature films about autism), Karen hopes that “our incomplete picture of autism can be fleshed out a little somehow.”
A few things that continue to irk me when the first response that people have about autism is “I’ve seen Rainman!.”
- The “Rainman” character in the movie—Raymond, played by Dustin Hoffman—is based on an autistic man, Kim Peek. But Rainman is not a true story; it is a Hollywood movie fiction
- Few autistic persons are savants as is the character of Raymond.
- After going on a road trip to Las Vegas with his brother Charlie, Raymond ends up back in the institution that he was in at the start of the movie, and the general consensus is that he is better off there.
Why do so many people seem to base their understanding of autism on a fictional character?
So perhaps my next response when someone says I’ve seen Rainman!” to me is “I’d love for you to see my son Charlie too and see what autistic adults themselves have to say.” I look forward to the conversation.
The same was very much true of Down syndrome while Life Goes On was on the air. Everyone wanted to compare my brother to Corky (the character played by Chris Burke).
I think it’s because people see people with _____ (Down syndrome, autism, quadriplegia, albinism, etc.) as a homogenous group — therefore, what you see on TV about one particular character must, in fact, be true of all people who fit into that group.
It’s stereotyping, ultimately, the same way you could argue that TV fosters stereotypes of certain ethnic groups.
On the one hand,the movie raised interest in autistic savants but on the other, some people now expect all autistics to be like Rainman. My son is not remotely like Rainman or Kim Peek and has no trouble telling people so.
I think the trouble with Rainman is that it seems to me that Raymond Babbitt was not meant to be a fleshed out character–his role was to provide a captivating and sympathetic plot device for the “transformation” of Charlie Babbitt from selfish SOB to caring individual.
I thought that Kim Peek is not, in fact, autistic? He’s a savant, but not autistic.
The usual response i get ‘oh hes like Rainman’ or ‘he can draw then’?!!!
Or what about those toothpicks……
When trying to explain to a dear friend what autism is and what makes my son autistic and after her saying all the time “my children do this, too”, I had to use the example of “Rainman”. Despite some misleading information about autism that this film provides, we must acknowledge that it made people a little bit more autism aware than before. In fact, even myself, all I knew about autism was from this film. And also from another film I watched 15-20 years ago about a little boy with severe autism, no communication of the environmant at all, who used to spin plates all the time. Then one day he asked his mother for juice and she immediately called her husband at work to let him know. The movie ends with the boy (which doesn’t behave as autistic anymore) playing in a park, where another child is sitting quietly with his parents. The boy asks the other child’s father what’s wrong with him and he replies “not everyone was born as lucky as you”. Does anyone knows this film? I’m trying to find it since our diagnosis but I didn’t have any luck.
My husband’s brother and sister-in-law have repeatedly stated to me, “He (my son) DOES NOT have autism…he doesn’t act at all like RainMan!!!” Despite my trying to educate them on ASD’s, they simply don’t, or can’t GET IT. On their last visit here (they live 5 hours away,,,thank God!) they witnessed my son’s difficulties with self-regulation. Pizza’s were delivered and the cheese was not “just right”, so son had a major meltdown. I removed son from the area, taking along a piece to allow it to cool down so it would be just “right”. Food “issues” have been present for as long as I can recall…and we have all adjusted to it. Well, these well-meaning “guests” felt it necessary to point out to me that, “We just aren’t used to this type of behavior…our mother never would have allowed it!” Insinuating if I were only not so accomodating…SIGH. They went so far as to comment that what they witness here reminds them of the JERRY SPRINGER show. Needless to say, it will be a cold day you know where before they are invited back. I have no room for intolerance…least of all from family. Have I given up on them? NO…it is just another reminder that many do not understand even the basics of ASD.
Recently when I disclosed my son’ dx to a group of friends, I could see by thier reactions, the two camps they fell into. The one camp was puzzled – they were metally comparing my son to Rainman and thinking “No way.” The other camp watched Oprah. One mom actually told me “Oh I know all about that. I just saw it on Oprah!” Sigh. But those reactions were starting points and enabled me to discuss my own sons’ dx and how broad the spectrum is. It can be trying though to feel like a walking, talking autism ambassador : )
It’s true that people just don’t understand ASD at all, sometimes. I get asked about Rainman all the time, and if I can count really fast.
Awareness is something that really needs worked on. I know the issue makes it hard to get needed support (lawmakers, after all, are people too, who have their own views and understandings, or lack thereof, of ASD). It’ll be nice, anyway, when I don’t have to explain to people that I’m not a mathematical savant.
Cliff
My understanding is that Kim Peek is not, in fact, diagnosed with autism, but he certainly exhibits ASD behaviors. Dustin Hoffman based his portrayal of Raymond on Kim Peek’s persona, but the story was not the story of Kim Peek’s life at all.
I must admit that I have always liked the movie, which I saw long before my son was born. I didn’t really think of it as sending a message that Raymond was better off in an institution, but rather as showing the tragedy of what can happen when a child is institutionalized (in the era when Bettelheim’s theories were accepted, institutionalization was often seen as preferable to leaving an autistic child with his “refrigerator” mother). So Raymond ended up being more comfortable in the institution.
As fiction, it is a fine movie. As a reflection of autism as a whole, it is lacking. Many of the adult autistics that blog tell horror stories of their experiences in institutions. Thus, people who see the movie and think they understand autism and/or have an opinion about institutionalizing autistic people are reading way too much into a work of fiction. (I sometimes see the same phenomenon with people who have read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. Excellent book with an autistic boy as the protagonist, but I’ve had friends read it and assume that my son is like that boy–not even close!)
I saw Rainman my freshman year in college, as a newly-declared psych major. I hadn’t learned anything about autism at that point, and found the movie to be very interesting, especially Charlie’s sensory issues. When I learned more about autism in my classes, though, I became aggravated by Rainman and felt I was constantly explaining to people that autistics seldom share his extreme savant abilities.
Now, though, the movie doesn’t bother me so much. Sure, the Charlie Babbitt character had a unique personality and skills set that is not representative of all – but isn’t that the same for everyone? It is a very broad spectrum, and we can’t expect that one autistic person (real or fictional) can speak for everyone.
Even then, though, I thought it was crap that Charlie had to go back to the institution (nice and friendly as they depicted it) at the end of the movie, just because he needed his routines so badly. They had already shown that he was able to adjust to new routines on his brief outing with his brother. That is what I think is the most harmful thing about the movie – not that Charlie has to go back to the institution, but that they chose to portray Charlie as being incapable of making that decision for himself. In the end, OTHERS make that decision for him. I thought it was crap then, and I think it is even crappier today. (I am very tired, and “crap” appears to be the only descriptive term du jour…)
My idea of autism (before having my own ASD child) was more derived from an old movie (60’s or 70’s) that I saw when I was a kid, and the autistic child spent the whole time looking at the wall, flapping and rocking. I can’t tell you what movie this is, but if I’m not mistaken, the lame movie message was that the child was “trapped in her own world” and that it took a lot of effort and love from a therapist to make the child snap out of it.
The actor actually spent time around a number of autistic people, not just Kim Peek, to develop the character.
I only saw Rain Man a long time after it came out. I remember wondering how much of what he did was because he was autistic and how much was lack of exposure to various aspects of the outside world.
Leila: Unfortunately that used to be (in some cases still is) such a common psychoanalytic theme around autism that it’d be hard to figure out exactly which movie that was (there seem to be a zillion with that basic plot).
Uly,
you are correct. Kim Peak is a person with ACC and a Savant. If you look at some of the documentaries, it becomes clear that the character “RainMan” is based on a Savant. Do they mention autism in the movie? I forget.
Now, they did have Bernie Rimland consult, so they were thinking of autism.
But, the writer notes that he writes about characters and wanted to write something with Kim Peak (type) character.
It comes a surprise to many that the “real” RainMan is not autistic by many people’s definition. I am somewhat confused by why he is exculded from a diagnosis based on behaviors when he has the behaviors.
Matt
“Do they mention autism in the movie? I forget.”
————
Yes. I believe that this ground is laid where Charlie has the initial discussion with the doctor and later in a waiting room while on the road where Charlie announces that Ray is “autistic” and as I recall, the nurse asks quizzically, “Artistic?”.
So it’s established that Ray has autism, that he is a savant, and the statement is made that he is “very high functioning”.
I’d seen Rainman before my son was born. After my son was diagnosed, I realized that his behaviors were very much like those of the character in the movie. This realization caused me to believe that my son would end up being just like him–A sadly disfunctional and emotionally disconnected being. This was an extremely grevious time for me. I felt that I’d lost a son–one whom I’d already fallen in love with.
I wish I’d known back then what I know now; that my son would grow to become such a wonderful kid and a great friend to all of us. I didn’t need to endure that level of sadness. I have a terrific son–I wouldn’t trade him for anyone.
Thanks for the reply, Amanda!
Strike123, I loved your comment. I can relate to your feeling of grief, and then bouncing back when I realized I hadn’t lost anything. I’m not sure if my son will be able to play baseball one day – the family’s major sport, but my bet is that he’ll be great on basketball, since he can always throw balls precisely where he wants, and he loves trying to make baskets.
The film about the child who rocked and spun plates and flapped his hands was called “Son-Rise – A Miracle of Love.” Based on a book by Barry Kaufman about his son, Raun.
Leila,
Sorry for my delayed response to your comment–I’ve been tied up doing yard work all weekend. Thanks for voicing your pleasure over my comments. I do believe you’re right about your son possibly becoming good at basketball. Some of our kids have strong visualization abilities, and those who don’t have significant motor/coordination difficulties can become quite adept at shooting a basketball. Some kids with ASD seem to have a propensity for observing and then immitating the physical actions of other people. This “gift” enables them to learn the various “moves” utilized by the professional players they watch on TV.
I do hope you continue to support your son in any of his endeavors in sports. Not everyone is built for sports, and that is okay, but for those who are interested and able, it can be tremendously therapeutic in many ways. Good luck and God Bless.
Dave
Asperger traits are more like Dustin Hoffman himself.
I just read the book Born on a Blue Day and that was the most fraudulent book about a so called autistic guy I’ve ever read. Half way into the story the guy says he’s gay. Hello! Then, as if we’re a buncha morons, he announes he’s a Christian, too! The book is one long oxymoron. Please tell me this isn’t a hit. If it is, the world of autism has changed for the worst. This kind of crap takes away from the TRUE needs of families and children suffering with this very serious disorder. What’s more, the author tells us he’s “Asperger’s” then he’s “autistic” then he’s on the specturn and by the way, his brother is an aspie. For the love of God make it stop.
well i’ve seen rain man, and i can’t really tell about if its real or not but this movie shows why autistic people act like they do because their minds work more different then ares do but autistic people also hav speacial abillties like raymond was really good with numbers see their is an example of what special abilltys the have.
Although the movie RainMan didn’t show the wide range and levels of Autism, it awakened the public to mental illness. Someone should make a “RainMan 2″ movie staring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise and expand on Autism, Aspergers and other mental illnesses. I believe the movie could win many academy awards!! Charlie eventually getting Raymond out of the institution because of more attention, love and one-on-one. thanks to Charlie’s several visits, should be included in the second movie. This will show the public that sometimes “All You Need Is Love”. Have this Beatle song in the movie. Maybe Paul McCartney could make a surprise appearance in the movie. The public needs to see an “educational feel good movie” for a change!! A percentage of the movie profits could go to mental health research and education.