Asperger's Hollywood Treatment

Long gone are the days of Rain Man. Three new movies tackling Asperger's syndrome are set to hit the big screen in the coming months, reflecting the public's growing concern with autism, along with an artistic recognition that the disease is a metaphor "for the condition of us all." Those with Asperger's—considered a "high-functioning form of autism"—generally exhibit an obsessive personality, a high IQ, and extreme social awkwardness. One of the films, Adam, about the title character's struggle with romance, opened in New York last week and earned honors at the Sundance Festival. One advocate said the movies indicate that Asperger's awareness is creeping into the mainstream, and that "it's becoming less of a threat and part of our culture."