San Diego Autism Society Meets with "Adam" Creators
Thursday, August 13, 2009
By: Cherri Cary

Chapter leaders speak with film's star, director

The San Diego Autism Society was recently invited to an interview with Max Mayer and Hugh Dancy, director and star of the new motion picture Adam, which tells the story of a man with Asperger’s Syndrome who forms a romantic relationship with his neighbor. Chapter president Cherri Cary and administrator Kay Freeman discussed the implications of the movie with Mayer and Dancy. The review below is a result of their conversation.

Adam, written and directed by Max Mayer, is a unique film not because the title character (wonderfully acted by Hugh Dancy) has Asperger’s Syndrome, but because the theme of this “romantic dramedy” is inclusion and the personal gains experienced by all involved in his story. Adam, a single man in his 30s, is portrayed in a positive light.

“Adam functions well and has a lot of really cool interests, like astronomy and theatre, but he’s essentially been cut off from the outside world,” explains Mayer. “He’s doing OK but realizes it isn’t the way to be when he bumps into [his neighbor] Beth.”

Beth, Adam’s romantic interest, moves into his Manhattan apartment building, and finds Adam interesting first as a neighbor, then a friend, and learns of his Asperger’s diagnosis after their relationship has begun. Both Adam and Beth have hurdles to overcome in learning to communicate and trust well enough to create lasting relationships. Adam’s differences serve as an interesting lens through which the audience is able to look at these universal struggles.

Writer-director Mayer and actor Dancy researched Asperger’s Syndrome thoroughly, including extensive academic study as well as viewing of YouTube offerings by individuals on the spectrum and personally corresponding with others to assure both a genuine presentation and also to avoid any unintentional offense to the autism community. Ultimately, Adam is written and acted well, and should be enjoyable for members of the autism community because it represents things we already know about ASD: Everyone on the autism spectrum is different; there is no room for stereotypes or sentimentality; inclusion is essential; and each person can and will create his or her own life in their own way.

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