Living in the Locked life of Autism - "A Still Jacket". Film - Sunday at 14:30

What is like to live in the locked world of autism?  Trish Thalman reviews the film "A Still Jacket"  which explores the issue through the eyes of a 26 year old man called Roman living in the Jura hills. Trish says this is "a breathtakingly beautiful aspect of learning about the 'locked in life' of Autism with spectacular visuals". This film will be repeated tomorrow Sunday at the 14:30 at the Capit0le Cinema 1 Share the truth” Roman communicates, “I want to be known for more than just a person with autism” when he is asked how he would like to be portrayed in the film.  Thus begins the exquisitely beautiful, powerful and intimate film of a handsome, 26 year old man who has never said a word during his life, but understands every word said to him. He lives on a working farm in the Jura Mountains, along with other autistic young men and women, and the professionals who work lovingly and honestly with him, as they endeavour to help Roman touch the outer world. With his manual skills, he is able to ‘muck out’ the cowsheds, vacuum his room, and work in the forest splitting small logs for firewood to be used on the farm and for sale. Progress and new learning comes with an introduction to learn how to use a chain saw to cut larger logs from the fallen trees. This takes time, repetition, scolding, personal conflict and heartfelt patience by the Xaver, the instructor/ therapist, who eventually ensures that Roman is able to use the chainsaw correctly. Roman loves the video camera Roman has been given a video camera by the filmmaker as ‘part of the deal’ to making this film about his life. Roman loves the video camera and especially likes to ‘be filmed’. We see his captivating photography portraying the simplicity and often, the inner chaos of his life.  One sequence that he films at night, while in a fluorescent-lit train car, provides a surreal shambles of colour, light and sound, all topsy-turvy as the video camera is pointed in no particular direction. Is that what Roman sees and wants to communicate to us in his attempt to be socially connected rather than isolated? Perhaps Roman is not so isolated and lacking in emotional nothingness. At one point he is disciplined for not respecting the personal space of one of his chainsaw team members. When asked why he aggressed the young man, Roman replies that he “wants to have a boyfriend”, a close connection with another person. The constant noise and activity of daily life on the farm, chainsaw training, the repetitive sounds and patterned movements of Roman’s anxious, regressive moments, are captured in Roman’s own videos and Giger’s sensitive close-ups of him and the people surrounding his furious life. Perhaps a ‘Still Jacket’ would release the fury.  The sumptuous, realistic photography incorporating extensive use of natural lighting along with the serene shots of the snow-dusted, Winter-through-Spring season in the Jura countryside, brings a welcome calmness to the portrait of a young man living a life within himself.  This film is directed by Ramon Giger and is in the  "Helvetique category" of films A film of the highest quality and sensitivity, laced with humour, that provides a face-to-face openness with the little known, much less understood, life of one person living within autism. Trish Thalman is an American from California living  in Gland and will be reviewing films throughout the Visions du Réel festival.  Photo above: courtesy Visions du Réel