Music.

So (non autistic) fright fringed songstress Sia Kate Isobelle Furler - or Sia as the kids cry her - has teamed up with (non autistic) children's writer Dallas Clayton  and decided to make a heart warming musical film quoted as being a "love letter to caregivers and People With Special Abilities" called, surprisingly enough Music.

The 'plot' has Zu (Kate Hudson), a free spirit estranged from her family, who is newly sober but deals drugs, become the guardian of her half-sister, Music, a teenager with autism - loving the PFL here - played by non autistic 'actress' Maddie Ziegler - don't worry tho' as 'Ziegler told Marie Claire she watched documentaries and YouTube videos to prepare'), after Music's grandmother dies. 

Zu struggles with this new responsibility but gets assistance from a neighbor, Ebo (Leslie Odom Jr.).

So far so disability porn but the best (and by best I mean really offensive) bit is the fact that - gasp - the  autistic world view are shown via  "fantasy musical sequences".

And in these sequences the autistic character shows no autistic traits because she's 'normal' in her thoughts.

No really.

And here it is.

 

 

Come on have we not moved on past the whole autistic character trope that treats us as little more than a device to allow the 'normal' characters to learn decency, empathy and to see the good in the world Ala Rain Man?

That was kinda OK back in 1988 before the massive upshot in actually autistic voices so you'd think by now stuff would've changed but no, in 2020 we still have autism-based films (and TV) that are pretty turgid affairs full of struggle, heartache and defying the odds to live a meaningful 'normal' life.

The 'A' Word and Please Stand By I'm looking at you.

I mean just look at the synopsis for that Elle Fanning starrer:

Wendy sees things differently: she's fiercely independent, with a brilliant mind and a mischievous sense of hilarity. Wendy also has autism. To her, people are an indecipherable code and the world is a confusing place. Inspired by her no-nonsense caregiver, Wendy comes of age and escapes from her care home on the road trip of a lifetime to deliver her 500-page script to a screenwriting competition.

Notice how similar the plots are?

We're not all knowing fonts of cookie cutter wisdom like some amusingly stimming Yoda or your go to feel good fetish.

We're actual living, breathing people, not props to make you feel good about yourself.

The funny things is tho' whenever something like this gets released the majority of the autistic community call it out for the uneducated nonsense it is but then rather than listen the folk involved - and their fans - jump on us and shout how the folk involved were just trying to help and we should be quiet and grateful.

As an aside if you want to see an autistic character portrayed brilliantly check out Neasa Hardiman's Sea Fever which features an Aspie marine biology student - Siobhán - who has to endure a week on a ragged fishing trawler in order to complete her degree, much to her annoyance.

Her - and the crews - life is turned upside down tho' when a strange sub-aquatic life form ensnares the boat and slowly begins to infect members of the crew....

And why is it so good?

She's just a character in the film like everyone else, her autieness isn't the focal point, the big monster is.

And who doesn't love a big monster?

As a (fairly cynical) aside I'm calling it now....Sia will either fain ignorance and say she thought she was doing a good thing, citing an unnamed autistic relative as inspiration or turn round and say she's self diagnosed in an attempt to deflect criticism.

Be seeing you.