Written by : Bretagne Charlotte, Cheval Mathilde, Perocheau Salomé
We would talk about the film the film « Hors Normes ». It was directed by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache. It is based on the experience of two associations in the suburbs of Paris, associations welcoming autistic children and adolescents (ASD). The two heads of associations, Stéphane Benhamou and Daoud Tatou, inspired the two main roles, played by Vincent Cassel and Reda Kateb.
The synopsis of the film is as follows. The action takes place in Paris and is concerned with two associations that welcome and care for autistic children and adolescents. The associations also aim to train young people from difficult neighbourhoods to take charge of the complex and difficult cases collected by these two associations. Two men run these associations and struggle every day in the face of the difficulties they encounter, whether these are inherent difficulties for ASD people, or young people in training who have trouble catching up and complying with work rules. Everything becomes complicated when one of the associations is investigated by the Inspectorate General for Social Affairs.
The film is very moving and manages to highlight the not always easy everyday life faced by associations that care for people with disabilities. They are often confronted with the lack of material and human resources, with an ever greater demand from suffering families. The reality of the lack of space in institutions is clearly highlighted here, as is the difficulty in finding institutions that accept the “most complex and difficult cases”. In this film, the associations set up “one-for-one”, that is to say an educator for a child, which in reality is almost impossible to achieve because of the financial cost and the human needs that this would require.
Even if it is not a documentary, the film “Hors Normes” provides a glimpse into the struggle of families with ASD children, the constant struggles to accept and understand their child, advance him and empower him. Thanks to the character of Joseph, played by Benjamin Lesieur, we are confronted with the difficulties of families whose ASD children have grown up and no longer have their place in the institutions, leaving families to fend for themselves with this child who has grown up and who may never be independent.
The shooting was a long job, because some of the actors were autistic people. The directors approached Stéphane Benhamou and Daoud Tatou in order to really be inspired by their daily life and that of their associations. In order to get these autistic actors to play, we already had to obtain the agreement of parents and families and reassure them about what would be shown on screen. It was necessary to explain to the parents that there would be no voyeurism, that the purpose of the film was to show the work done in the two associations. During the shooting they had to deal with the particularities and needs of these actors, without pushing them into a corner.
Actors in the role of educators were also difficult to choose. In fact, if at first the directors wanted professional actors to play these roles, this was not possible. They were not prepared to deal with autistic actors and the potential for physical violence. Real educators of associations were therefore recruited to play in the film.
This film is very moving and despite a sensitive and difficult subject a good dose of humor allows to appreciate the various points addressed. The film presents a fair view of the reality of the difficulty of caring for autism, not only for ASD people themselves, families, institutions and associations and professionals, but also for the state. This film has been praised by many associations who hope it will make things happen. It also allows people who are not directly confronted with this subject to become aware of it and to get to know in part what autism spectrum disorder is.
As future psychologists, we find this film very interesting because it presents autism spectrum disorder in its reality. For many, when we talk about autism, we think of high-level autism, in other words Asperger syndrome, which is much more represented in the media. However, this is not the norm when it comes to ASD. This film deals with severe autism, which is difficult to manage. However, the film presents a positive vision of autism, in fact we see that it is possible to work with these people and to advance them.
If the film presents an interesting approach, that of one for one (an educator for a child/young ASD) this is rarer in reality and more difficult to set up because it represents a financial and human cost. In the film we also see that the associations offer many outdoor outings and not just keep ASD people inside an institution. This outward orientation allows ASD people to develop their autonomy as well as to discover new experiences, not to be left out of the world, they are included.
However, this film presents a very idealistic vision of caring for ASD people. In fact, it is very utopian to entrust young ASD to untrained people, even if they are full of good will Autism requires appropriate care, where supervisors have knowledge of the disorder and are able to implement knowledge-based protocols. In this film, the associations do not seem to have medical staff or psychologists. In fact, we only see the role of the psychiatrist of the USIDATU (Inter-departmental Emergency Reception Unit) who shares information on patients received by the association. A speech-therapist is also present in this unit and offers advice to the association’s educators so that they can better help young people with autism. We have to Knom that autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that requires medical management because of certain organic features, among others. According to the DSM V, autism spectrum disorder may be associated with other disorders or pathologies, which is why multidisciplinary management is necessary.
In autism, the educational side is very important for advancing ASD people. It is not really apparent, in this movie. In fact, the film does not really show the adapted communication tools that exist and allow exchanges with ASD people, or how to advance them in social skills or how to work on their sensory difficulties. It is not enough to be patient and listening to solve all the problems that may arise when we accompany this population.
The film «Hors Normes» therefore allows a first approach to the reality of the complexity of autism spectrum disorder, but it must not be believed that the care of these people is based only on the goodwill and perseverance of those who supervise them. Knowledge of the tools and particularities of autism is needed as well as training to take care of them.
Words we have learned:
- Tool: outil
- Push into a corner: pousser dans ses derniers retranchements, acculés, dans une impasse
- to fend for : se débrouiller
- to have trouble: avoir du mal à, avoir des difficultés à
- good will: bonne volonté, bienveillance