“I’m like a hermit on an island“. This is what Patrick writes about his life as an autistic who lives caught in his own body. With the wisdom of a thinker and the dreams and fears of a teenager, Patrick takes us on a trip into his world and allows us a glimpse of his inner feelings.

 

 

 

directed by Ingrid Demetz
editor and co-director Caroline Leitner
cinematography Daniel Mazza

documentary, 49'

AWARDS:

1st prize - International Student Film Fest Belgrade (Serbia)

Golden award - Aljazeera International Doc Film Festival Doha (Qatar)

Special award Best film against marginalisation - Sehsüchte Potsdam (Germany)  

Audience award + Special mention of the jury - Mostrari Festival Alacant (Spain) 

1^st prize Golden Centaur - International Film Festival "Message to Man" St. Petersburg (Russia) 

 

BROADCAST BY:

RAI-Radiotelevisione italiana

DISTRIBUTED BY:

North-America: FANLIGHT www.fanlight.com

Europe and other countries: STEFILM INTERNATIONAL www.stefilm.it

 

Director’s Note
How do we get to know a person? Is verbal exchange a necessary requirement to get closer to somebody or do the gestures describe his essence?
As far as Patrick is concerned, both of these theories lose of importance. In the foreground his spoken words and his body language tell about his disability, but they don’t give us any information about his emotional world. It is impossible to guess what he feels or thinks. There is an abyss between his appearance and what is inside of him. Only his written words allow us to get to know him and to have a look at his soul.
During the dialogues with Patrick I could witness how he typed letter per letter into the computer and how in the end these letters expressed his thoughts. While watching this process I became aware of how precious and strong words can be, and of how little is sometimes enough to say a lot, but also that some things can’t be put into words.
It is important that people get sensitized for this topic in order to be able to approach others with any kind of disability in a human and sensitive way.
This film can be a little step into this direction and maybe one or another spectator will feel like knowing more about autism. It doesn’t offer any kind of scientific explanation of autism, but is rather a subjective description of what it means for Patrick to live with autism as well as a chance for him to reach us through his own words.

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