Amy Scott

I sit here reading all the horrible comments people have to say about this movie, and I am seeing so many posts by people who clearly wrote it off before even watching it. It's obvious that those critics were determined to hate it. I have never seen so many "sheep" flock at one time. Because we were all being told we should be extremely offended by it. That the entire autistic community is being mocked. And, that this is not a realistic depiction of what autism looks like. It's called a spectrum for a reason! This wasn't about defining the autistic community as a whole. The argument about the role being played by a neurotypical actor, has completely been blown out of proportion. "An autistic actor could have been cast, instead". Ok, let's roll with that idea, shall we? I know there are autistic actors. Is there an autistic actor who comes close to the end of the spectrum the character was written for? Mostly non-verbal, and who has similar mannerisms. The end of the spectrum that Music's character represents, is not likely to be found acting. Hiring an autistic actor who is verbal, who does not naturally have the same mannerisms as the character, would have had to act "more" autistic. How would that have been a better solution? If the autistic actor doesn't live this specific reality, what makes them more qualified to "act" as if they do, than a neurotypical actor. It is ACTING. Does the actor always get cast in a role depicting someone on the spectrum? Is that the only type of role they are hired to play? Probably not. Should I be upset that an actor that is part of the LGBTQ community plays a heterosexual? Or the other way around? Should I expect to only see natural blondes playing a blonde, or a real drug addict playing a drug addict? Where do we draw the line? Sia would have been criticized for not respecting an autistic actor, and embracing their abilities. But that is exactly the point I'm trying to make. This was not about a girl who is in an adaptive, higher functioning part of the spectrum. You seem to think that there are no autistic individuals who are like Music that exist in real life. I hate to break it to you, but there are millions. MILLIONS who resemble this character. And this movie does not mock them. It does not give the world a singular definition that covers all people on the spectrum. It's a reality for some, even if it's not a reality for you. I watched this film 5 times. I cried every single time. With each member of our family individually. Our entire family loved the message in this movie. Including my autistic son, who cried twice during the film. Once because of losing Felix, knowing how much he loved Music unconditionally and would do anything for her. And then at the end, when he realized that the night Felix died, he'd submitted an application for Music to have a service dog. It was a beautiful story. The movie wasn't about Music, it was about the people in her life. How they were better people BECAUSE of her. She was their inspiration to keep going. And if you got a different impression, you need to watch it again!