autism – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

HORSEGIRLS – Review by Lois Alter Mark

June 29, 2026July 4, 2026 Lois Alter Mark autism, Gretchen Mol, Horsegirls, Lauren Meyering, Lillian Carrier, neurodivergent

There’s nothing like a quirky little indie movie to make you look at the world through fresh eyes. In Horsegirls, those eyes belong to Margarita (Lillian Carrier), a young woman with autism who loves to tell the NSFW story behind her name. By showcasing a neurodivergent young woman with a unique interest, Lauren Meyering has created a small miracle of a movie with surprisingly universal themes. It’s part coming of age story, part tearjerker, part sports movie. Its focus on the power of simply being nice will definitely make you feel good.

Reviews

EZRA – Review by T. J. Callahan

May 23, 2024May 29, 2024 T. J. Callahan autism, Bobby Cannavale, Ezra, rainn wilson, robert deniro, rose byrne, tony goldwyn, vera farmiga, Whoopi Goldberg, William A. Fitzgerald

When a 15 year old boy on the autism spectrum, acting in his first movie, outshines his heavy hitting Hollywood co-stars, you know he’s something special. If only his film, Ezra, was just as exceptional. William A. Fitzgerald is Ezra. The teen was a mild mannered New Jersey school boy who liked acting when, on a whim, he auditioned for the film and won the part. He makes the movie watchable, stealing every scene he is in, which fortunately is a lot.

Reviews

LET ME BE ME – Review by Lois Alter Mark

February 26, 2022February 26, 2022 Lois Alter Mark autism, Dan Crane, documentary, Jen and Jeff Westphal, Katie Taber, Kyle Westphal, Let Me Be Me, Son-Rise

Instantly relatable, just the title alone of this moving documentary is good advice for everyone. Although it deals specifically with one family’s struggle with autism, its messages about unconditional love and acceptance are universal and, ultimately, uplifting. Jen and Jeff Westphal realized there was something different about their son, Kyle, from a young age. Disconnected and in his own world, he had a hard time making eye contact and didn’t want to be hugged but liked to dress up as Cinderella and wrap himself in fabric to hide from people.

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