#MOVIE ABOUT CHILD PIANO PRODIGY TRIAL#
#MOVIE ABOUT CHILD PIANO PRODIGY SERIES#

Most autism-themed films tend to focus only on protagonists who are on the autism spectrum and do not have any other disability.

The film takes a unique perspective in its examination of autism through portraying a protagonist who is both blind and autistic. Janice is less than thrilled by this development, not only because of TonyвЂ™s increasing assertion of an independent social life but also because of her fears of having his heart broken due to his vulnerability as a person with autism. During his time at the college, he is partnered with a female student named Julia (portrayed by Cassidy Rae), who regularly heard his piano music from his apartment window whenever she would walk by, and an attraction develops between them. Consequently she declines the proposal and insists that Tony attend the Berklee College of Music so that he can stay in her vicinity.

Although she made the sacrifice of moving to Boston and enrolling him in the Perkins School for the Blind in the hope that he would learn to lead an independent life, she cannot bear the prospect of giving up the musical genius she feels he has become through her efforts. The idea of letting Tony go out into the world independently is an immense challenge for Janice.

#MOVIE ABOUT CHILD PIANO PRODIGY TRIAL#

In TonyвЂ™s case, they insist that he is one of very few people with such a unique mastery of the piano at his age, and they propose to take Tony with them to New York for a piano trial period.

#MOVIE ABOUT CHILD PIANO PRODIGY SERIES#

Following a series of consultations with Tony, they inform Janice of their conclusion that he is a savant, explaining that people with Savant syndrome display certain abilities that are far in excess of the average individual. As a teenager (portrayed by Chris Demetral), Tony comes to the attention of specialists who take keen notice of his status as a blind autistic piano prodigy. Through DeBloisвЂ™ influence, Janice manages to get Tony enrolled in the school, where he makes steady progress over the years in refining his mastery of the piano, while at the same time Janice develops a romantic relationship with Thomas (eventually leading to marriage). Janice finds an unexpected ally in the person of Thomas DeBlois (portrayed by Stephen Lang of Gettysburg and Gods and Generals fame), a music instructor at the Perkins School for the Blind who is impressed by TonyвЂ™s talent and agrees to work with him as his piano teacher. Upon arriving in Boston, however, they find their new accommodation less than satisfactory, as it is a rundown apartment, and the prospects of TonyвЂ™s admission to the Perkins School for the Blind are much more difficult than Janice expected. Consequently she decides to move to Boston, Massachusetts in order to enroll Tony in the Perkins School for the Blind, despite the initial opposition from Ray who is averse to the idea of leaving familiar surroundings and somewhat resentful of doing so for his brotherвЂ™s benefit. Janice realizes that Tony should go to a special school for the blind where he can further develop his unique talent and the skills necessary for leading an independent life. Although he is blind, he displays a remarkable musical talent and soon becomes a regular sensation at the bar. ItвЂ™s an important moment for Janice when Tony starts playing вЂњTwinkle Twinkle Little StarвЂќ on the piano in the bar where she works. As a single mother of two, Janice finds it extremely difficult to manage TonyвЂ™s issues as a blind child with autism, although he enjoys the close emotional support of his brother Ray. This incident results in Tony being picked up by the police and brought home to Janice for indecent exposure in public, which adds to her frustration after dealing with the pressures of work. Tony is first introduced as a child (portrayed by Jeremy Lelliott) whose blindness and autism is taken advantage of by bullies who trick him into dancing naked in the street under a running water hose, which he takes to be rainwater. The film revolves around TonyвЂ™s mother Janice (portrayed by Cybil Shephard) who lives with Tony and his brother Ray in a small Texas town and struggles to make ends meet as a bar waitress and as a housekeeper. On a recent occasion I had the opportunity to watch the 1997 television film Journey of the Heart, loosely based on the real-life story of Tony DeBlois who is a blind autistic savant and musician. вЂњWhat the character of Rain Man can do with math, I can do with musicвЂќ Tony DeBlois

Movie about child piano prodigy