However, it is when we get to films that aren’t based on actual events that things start to get a little complex. The same can be said about biopics and such, but with a delicate issue like disability, a filmmaker has to be careful not to cross the line separating humility and parody. Take the movie Tropic Thunder, which cleverly plays on the politics of Awards season and Oscar-baiting (Tom Hanks has the briefest of cameos as a nominee for a film about a handicapped athlete, and Sean Penn as a blind man) when films about disability traditionally lead the way for the top prizes. The spoof trailer for Simple Jack, not intended to be taken seriously by any means, caused a furore with a large number of viewers regarding its representation of a mentally-impaired farmhand – it may have been funny to some, but was it well-advised? No.
Therefore, it’s important for an actor to take the utmost care with their portrayal – Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man is a wonderful example of the immersion required. The film stands as a testament to an actor’s extraordinary gift, and the accuracy and precision they must exhibit to play the character a film demands. You get a sense of the significance the performance held for Hoffman by simply looking at his preparation for the role. Playing an autistic savant, it was essential that he nailed every mannerism and symptom that comes with it. This strength of his performance lies here it seems.
To prepare for the role he spent time with a real-life savant, Kim Peek, who exhibited the extraordinary memory capabilities shown in the film. From there, he studied his movements, speech patterns, facial expressions and responses to social situations. The Raymond Babbitt character was also based on Bill Sackter, a mentally-handicapped man who was placed under the care of screenwriter, Barry Morrow. He was the subject of two films, Bill and Rain Man, and spent most of his life at the Faribault State School for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic.
While the film has led to a common misconception that all autistics are savants as well, it’s still a very considered and empowering piece on disability and the overarching effect on all involved in the struggle to maintain it. Just like My Left Foot examined Christy Brown’s relationship with his family, in particular his mother, Rain Man does the same – with a touching juxtaposition between Raymond and his brother, Charlie. The relationship, heart-wrenching but comedic, examines the misconception and stigma attached to disability. It is a story of growth and understanding between two siblings at opposite ends of the spectrum, which takes into consideration the wonderful gifts disability can bring, as well as the crippling limitations it has on those affected.