After Thomas

I saw this on TV over the Christmas period.And i've got to say how brilliant this film was.Having an autistic child i was expecting the TV soap opera approach.How wrong was i.

So many things in this hit like a hammer.Situations both myself and my wife have been though.Screaming in the street,People staring in disgust,Trying to buy new shoes.....The list is endless.

Well made and acted.A truly amazing story.This film must be on your 'To watch List'

If only we had a DVD release.

Remember you don't need a wheel chair to be disabled.

As a mum of two sons with autism, I think this excellent drama will go a long way to raising awareness. It's the most accurate portrayal I've seen of the reality of autism. The lives of the child with autism and their parents revolve around their heightened sensitivity, unrelenting fears and extreme reaction to sight, sound and touch. It was moving too that the drama acknowledged the enormous strain it places on relationships, because our whole time is devoted to caring and helping to expand their knowledge and vocabulary. It was handled sensitively, without being overly melodramatic or intense, and for all the painful moments there were some lovely uplifting ones too. I felt the writers had shown integrity with the script and really taken time to get it right. I hope it will be shown again and even win some awards.

PASSER BY: "Disgraceful behaviour!"

KYLE'S MOTHER: "What, you staring at a disabled child having a fit? I agree!"

Kyle is a lost cause. Born with a very severe case of autism, he can barely communicate... apart from repeating parrot-like what he hears. He often rehashes these phrases in the most inappropriate situations, much to the amusement of everyone except his mum and dad. He throws random temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He still wears nappies at the age of 6. He has no comprehension of the emotional needs of others. His only outlet in life is his obsession with trains.

His parents are at their wits end. They've sent him to a special needs day school, but progress is frustratingly slow. The father wants to pack him off to a specialist unit 5 days and nights a week, but mother is desperate for him to have a chance in the real world. Mum is sick of having no social life, while dad is seriously considering an affair with a family friend. Things look bleak. Then, they decide to get a dog... And everything changes.

After Thomas is a wonderful film, the best I've seen this year so far. Every detail, from the little picture cards Kyle has to examine to understand what he has to do, to his tendency to walk up and down in a straight line for hours, rings true. The little actor they have to play this part is perfect. This is no sugar-coated Hollywoodised view of a handicap... living with this child is a chore, and would test the patience of a saint.

Then along comes Thomas, named after Kyle's favourite Tank Engine. He doesn't really bond with the canine straightaway... but gradually, an eternal friendship is forged. Thomas helps him open up, and what started out as a hopeless situation becomes a journey of discovery for him and his parents, as they see more and more of their son every day. The scene where he calls them Mum and Dad for the first time is such a tearjerker, you'll want to reach for the toilet paper product that Thomas's breed also advertises.

Few films earn the title Life Affirming. This one surely does. 8/10

I won't elaborate on the plot of "After Thomas" as it's been covered by other reviewers, all of whom (to date) I must heartily agree with. As a drama it was faultless, and must have brought hope to many parents in a similar situation. The acting by all (including the dog) was superb, and Keeley Hawes in particular has proved once again what a magnificently talented actress she is, and that there is no role she cannot tackle. As she did last year in "Under the Greenwood Tree" she teams up again, equally successfully, with Ben Miles, and their performances are just as unmissable. A special tribute has to be paid to Andrew Byrne for his portrayal as the autistic child Kyle. A truly remarkable job for such a young actor.

If this movie does not receive an award of some sort, then there is no justice.

Over the last few years I have developed an interest in working with children on the Autistic Spectrum. I have found all forms of Autism to be the most interesting, complex and distressing conditions a child and their family have to experience and cope with.

I watched this film for the first time on TV last night. I thought it was an excellent portrayal of the difficulties experienced by those affected by ASD.

I am hoping that lots of people watched and that peoples insight to the awareness and understanding of Autism is broadened through this superb production.