After Thomas

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.

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 remembered seeing After Thomas on the Christmas of 2006 and absolutely adoring it. Finding the tape that we recorded it on while clearing up I sat down to watch it, hoping that my positive memories of it had not changed. Thank goodness those memories were no fluke. After Thomas was amazing. I specifically remember thinking that it was one of the better dramas on that Christmas, and I still think that.

After Thomas looks stunning. You can never go wrong with skillful photography, picturesque scenery and evocative attention to detail, and After Thomas had exactly that. The music was also beautifully composed, never too obtrusive or too little but just right and just the right tone for the drama's mood.

The writing is thoughtful and poignant with Kyle's Kyle loves Mummy really standing out as a line that truly resonates with you emotionally. I also have to credit the story, it is a well paced and beautifully constructed one that anyone can identify with. It is also very affecting, this is not the sentimentality that feels too much or feels preachy, this sentimentality is genuine and written and incorporated so well and carefully that you care for the story and the characters and their predicaments.

Underneath all this though, you do feel a glimmer of hope, the subject matter for After Thomas is a brave one and being autistic myself is one I can personally engage with, and seeing how Kyle behaves it made me think and gave me hope. The acting is wonderful throughout, the dog is adorable and very convincing, and as great as Keeley Hawes, Ben Miles and Shiela Hancock are it was the remarkable performance of Andrew Byrne that moved me most.

Overall, truly amazing and anyone who hasn't seen it yet and plans to, I advise you to have some tissues at the ready, I myself needed more than a few at the end. 10/10 Bethany Cox

as a mother to two autistic boy, this drama brought back reminders of what we have been through and moved me to tears, when kyle said kyle loves mummy, i remembered the time my son came up to me and said he loved me, it made me cry.the laying down in the road is exactly what my son does too, so much of this was our everyday life such a true to life account of life with autism. i think everyone should watch this as it will bring a better understanding and then families like ours will no longer have the prejudices that we face in everyday life. this drama show's there is hope out there for families that feel they are alone and unsure that this is normal behaviour for a autistic kids.