For that reason, Rain Man is gratifying for those familiar with the condition and hard-hitting for viewers with little to no knowledge. It preaches morals like consideration and the importance of family, however fractured and disjointed the relationship is, while taking a broadly funny look at autism with a light-heart – no small thanks to the leads, Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. While it empowers the disabled, it also puts their plight into perspective, recognizing their difference while still regarding them on a level playing field. Despite the rising misconceptions following its release, Rain Man still deserves the praise it garners as a film that understands the complexity of life, with and for, an autistic savant.
These are just a couple of films paving the way for positive representations of disabled persons. I believe, personally, this is down to the foundations based in real-life – factual case studies of real individuals. While My Left Foot takes the biopic approach and chronicles his life and hard work, Rain Man instead draws inspiration from real people, moulding them into a more typical Hollywood narrative. This does not lessen the significance in any way, merely presenting similar concepts in a much more focused, stylistic way. The effect these films have for disabled viewers cannot be understated, for they give us characters that can be considered true role models in the face of the impossible, even if it’s something as simple as Raymond understanding his brother’s joke for the first time.
But the fact of the matter is, there are so many people out there like Christy and Raymond, people whose stories are not told on the big-screen – who won’t have their name in lights. These are people who face a never-ending battle with their bodies, but have the brains and talent to inspire anybody who happens upon them. These are people who look upon the world in a way you could never conceive. These people are the real stars, the real heroes, who deserve to have their story told.
