Max Mayer's "Adam"

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Today, I watched Max Mayer's film "Adam". Frankly, it made me very depressed. I would like others to discuss it with me, please.

I suppose it is well acted. Perhaps it is an honest portrayal.

The DVD cover billed it as a comedy, which it isn't. It is rated PG-13 for "thematic material"...does that mean there is an age limit to understand autism?

I'm sorry if this is a repost of another thread...I did look, but didn't find one.

Thanks. All of the material I've seen is biased in favor of the movie. Does anyone know more about Max Mayer, the writer/director?

I saw the film and enjoyed it.

I didn't think if it as a 'comedy," but as a drama with a some funny bits. I wasn't expecting an out-and-out "comedy" so I wasn't thrown by this.

As for the PG-13 rating. I think this had to do with the language used in the film (swearing/course language) and some sexual themes. I wouldn't pay much mind to the rating system - I have seen many "PG-13" films that I thought very acceptable for family viewing. In any event, the rating was not applied due to the subject of autism.

What specific parts of the film depressed you?

i found the movie a bit depressing.
and the girlfriend's dad was such an a**hole.

I guess they tried to market it as a romcom to NTs, but I actually heard the main actor didn't know it was a romcom when he was making it.

I liked this film, but I hated the end - it gave the wrong impression totally, it made the audience think Aspies just use people and don't really love them, which isn't true at all.

Saw it with my fiance when it was in theaters. Neither of us liked it very much. Temple Grandin was a much better film.

Don't worry about a depressing ending to some movie...it's only a movie.

I know, but my point is it gives the wrong message to an NT audience, and as stupid as it sounds, people do tend to make judgments about autism based on the media.

As predictable as it would have been, I would have preferred that Adam had gotten the girl. you're right, it was a depressing movie. I much preferred Mozart and the Whale.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

...but her dad got what he deserved, and her mom said that she saw it coming.


I also found the movie a bit too depressing.

Sure, i've had it much easier than Adam, but the words "not relationship material" forever got burned into my mind.

My fear is that other people will see that movie and assume that every Aspie is like Adam, just like many believe that every Autie is like Rainman.

At least he wasn't some 5 year old kid like many (thick headed NT's) seem to think that it only affects children.

That was a concern I'd had too. When my fiance and I went we'd expected a romantic comedy. It was sorta that, until the end. She insisted that they must end up getting back together. I don't think that was the case. My sister who I don't see all that much saw it and made a lot of assumptions about me because of it. She was surprised that I didn't relate very much to the character.

How was the ending depressing? They both learned from their relationship, sure Adam learned a lot more than she did but he was completely inexperienced. It's even suggested near the end that a female tourguide might be interested in Adam. With a final scene where he recieves a copy of the children's book she (I forgot her name, I don't mean the female tourguide) wrote, based on the family of hedgehogs they watched in what I'm led to believe is a very romantic scene.

If someone could fill me in on the depressing part, that'd be great. It's also been a few months since I watched the movie so I might have omitted a few key elements.

Depressing, no. Memorable, no. My main problem with the film was that the female lead was so boring. Also I couldn't see how they fell in love, then again I rarely can in romantic films. (what is the emoticon for a shrug, I wonder?)

Depressing, no. Memorable, no. My main problem with the film was that the female lead was so boring. Also I couldn't see how they fell in love, then again I rarely can in romantic films. (what is the emoticon for a shrug, I wonder?)

I really enjoyed the film 'Adam'. I've bought the DVD and I have been passing it around to family members so they can have at least a basic understanding of what obstacles I face having Aspergers.

The film also gave me a sense of relief. Why all the relationships I had with 'NT's' were essentially doomed to failure. I feel a sense of commonality with the character Adam.

I too disliked the ending. It shows Adam in his new job, after breaking up with his girlfriend. In only 1 year he has had a 'miracle' recovery from aspergers. He can offer to help and empasize with others around him. Sure I'll meet up with you and the boys after work tonight, or the limitation of his instructional description of his field of study to the students. This paints the wrong picture of people with Asperger's.

Had the ending read '20 years later', and then he was able to function more like NT's, that would have been more realistic. The one year miracle recovery at the end of the film suggests that the rest of us, with proper guidance and mentoring, should be able to 'recover' after only 1 year, and this is misleading.

As someone who has Asperger's Syndrome, I could totally relate with the titular character and what he goes through throughout the film. I believe that the role of Adam was very well acted and portrayed in respect to Asperger's Syndrome. I just wish the movie had been nominated for best picture, though.

Those who in a relationship with AS may want to watch "Adam" with their significant other, especially if the significant other is non-AS. Watching this movie would help someone who does not has AS who is in a relationship with one who does help with the non-AS partner to understand Asperger's better.

My wife and I watched this film the day after our marriage counselor first suggested I had Asperger's. Neither of us had ever heard of it before. My wife cried so much during the film because it hit home with her on many levels having been married to me for nearly 8 years and neither of us understanding what was "wrong" with me and my inabilities in our relationship. Now, I'm in the process of getting my formal diagnosis and sadly, my wife and I are no longer together. I fell asleep during the movie so I don't know how it ended.