ADAM - Max Mayer Sundance Interview and Clip

In movies, when two twentysomethings serendipitously wind up under the same Manhattan roof, witty repartee usually transpires, then sparks fly, and eventually they fall into bed. But the boy and the girl in Adam are no ordinary characters, and their romance is anything but familiar. Soon after moving in, Beth, a brainy, beautiful writer, encounters Adam, the handsome, but odd, fellow in the downstairs apartment. A pleasant chemistry flows, but his awkwardness is perplexing. Whether avoiding eye contact or standing by blithely while Beth drags a heavy load up steep stairs, Adam seems utterly oblivious to social convention. Then one night, Adam regales Beth with an elaborate outer-space light show. Its a magical moment, tainted slightly by his obsessively thorough astronomical explanation. Their connection is palpable. It becomes clear that Adams inability to decipher nonverbal signals is beyond his control. And yet Beth doesnt balk. Their mutual interest tentatively takes root.What makes this rare story about obstacles to human intimacy credible is its tremendous psychological wisdom; what makes it transcendent is the intelligence and authenticity radiating from actors Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. Though their particular challenges are extraordinary, Beth and Adams tricky relationship elucidates something universal: truly reaching another person means bravely stretching into discomfiting territory-and the shake-up can be liberating.

[@angrybritishman]

It starts playing at the Sundance Film Festival in a few days, but in the usual vein of Sundance films it will be awhile before the average person can find it on DVD. :(

[@hamstersniffer]

My 17 year old son has Asperger's Syndrome. He is incredibly smart and has the kindest heart of anyone I have ever known. But my son (ironically also named Adam) is absolutely a lost ball in high weeds when it comes to personal interaction. He even has trouble knowing how to interact with our cat. I certainly hope Mayer has done justice to people like my son and from what little of the movie I've been able to see I think he probably has.

[@zachjohnson4530]

I have Autism

[@youcansendme-a-letter]

I am not exactly sure if people with AS lack a theory mind completely, I just think that their theory of mind is not always compatible with other neurotypes. Think of it the other way around, an NT trying to understand a person with AS when they have never heard of it before, the NT person is going lack a theory of mind towards the person with AS.