Temple Grandin is a 2010 biographical drama about a young woman who is

extraordinarily gifted. The biopic follows Temple from her late teens as she
struggles with both, her own limitations and some narrow mindedness of
the communities around her, towards her startling first accomplishments
with the help of a supportive family and one progressive teacher. Temple
tackles with the misconceptions about her condition, the sexism of mid-20th
century America and the rigid insensitive methods of the cattle industry.
In the movie, Director Mick Jackson portrays Temple’s life and the workings
of her mind expertly through audacious visual effects, flashbacks and the
talents of Claire Danes in the title role to bring the audience in Temple’s
world as she finds her calling as a game changing scientist and ultimately
learns to accept herself as a force of nature.
The film starts off with temple visiting her aunt for the summer and working
on her ranch. Her inclination to science and her extraordinary mind is
immediately seen when she comes up with innovative contraptions and
fixes everything around the house. Here the audience is also familiarized
with her ability to think in pictures. She enjoys interacting with the animals
at the ranch and becomes interested in a ‘cattle crush’, a device that hugs
the cows to calm them down and “gentle them”. One day while having a
panic attack, Temple places herself in the device and it helps to calm her
down too.
When Temple first attended college, she is very nervous, moving into her
college dorm. She has a panic attack in her room but her mother gives her
space by closing the door. While outside, her mother has a flashback to
when Temple was little and had relentless tantrums.
Temple was diagnosed with classic autism which was characterised by
problems in social interaction, lack of eye contact, no spoken language and
avoiding human affection and touch among other things. The doctor
classified Autism as a form of schizophrenia blaming her mother as the
cause for the disorder and claiming that she was cold and aloof towards her
child. He suggested placing Temple in an institution. Her mother however,
refused to listen to the diagnostician and started working with her to help
her adapt to the everyday world. She also hired a speech therapist who
would work one-on-one with Temple and enabled her to acquire language.
During her college years Temple conceptualizes the squeeze machine which
she designs for herself because she has sensory integration dysfunction and
dislikes physical affection by people. The machine hugs both sides of her to
calm her down as she controls the pressure and helps her relax whenever
she becomes tense.
Even though the machine works the school forces Temple to remove it
claiming that it is some kind of sexual device. Later after spring break, her
aunt goes back to school to persuade them to let her use the device.
Temple also proves through scientific study of an experiment she conducts
that the machine is in fact only a calming device.
The movie then goes to a flashback when Temple was being admitted to
Hampshire country school. Her mother tells the professors and admission
authorities that she was expelled from her previous High School because a
child taunted her and she hit him with a book.
Mother also explains that temple was regularly bullied at school for being
different, for not understanding regular jokes made by the children, and for
not being able to communicate like them. She explains Temple’s tendencies
to talk too fast, to spin in circles to comfort herself etc.
Dr Carlock, the science teacher at the school has talk with a distressed Mrs.
Grandin and assures her that this school would be the right place for her
daughter. He also says that he would love to have her there. It is here Dr
Carlock identifies Temple’s superior intellectual abilities and behaviour
patterns and requests an opportunity to work with her.
He challenges her to construct a model of a room with distorted perspective
to create an optical illusion. Temple struggles with it but eventually
succeeds. He celebrates her success to let her know that she is appreciated.
He encourages her to go further into Science as a career and to eventually
attend college. Temple does indeed graduate from college with a
psychology degree and becomes a worker at a ranch. After college she
starts working at a press so she can continue working at the ranch. She
publishes multiple articles that are read by people far and wide. She
ultimately builds a new dip and alters the slaughterhouse system so that it
is much more humane for the cattle. We see Temples persistence when she
comes up with ingenious tricks whenever faced with any obstacle in her
work. For instance, when she is informed that women aren’t allowed at the
ranch, she exchanges her car for a truck and poses as a man to get ger
entry.
The film concludes with an Autism fair convention which Temple and her
mother attend. Temple speaks out from the crowd and tells the audience
how she overcame difficulties and was able to achieve academic success
and also finally acknowledges how her mother helped her deal with the
everyday challenges. The people become so fascinated with her insights
that they request her to speak in front of the auditorium.
That marks the beginning of a new chapter in temples life and she perceives
it as yet another door that opens to a new world.

The characters in ‘Temple Grandin’ demonstrate compassion, courage,

empathy and various other competencies related with social skills and
emotional intelligence as key components to conquering difficulties in life.
Temple’s aunt, Ann is a major contributor to her development. Although she
doesn't always understand her she communicates to her best ability
patiently and with an open mind to help Temple adjust to the environment.
We constantly see her trying to develop Temple and help her deal with her
internal conflicts. She keeps drawing up small solutions to make her more
comfortable; for example, when Temple is concerned about her room aunt
Ann immediately addresses it and makes a sign for the door with her name
on it. She also stands by Temple when she is distressed. She even supports
her when there is an issue with her “Squeeze Machine” at the college.
Temples mother plays the role of a major change catalyst for Temple as she
refuses to take the diagnostician’s advice to institutionalize her. She
diligently works to develop Temple and also employs a speech therapist to
help her talk. As soon as she starts talking her mother pushes her to go to
school then high school and then college. She works tirelessly and leaves no
stone unturned to aid Temple’s overall growth. She even provides emotional
support wherever possible despite Temple’s lack of reciprocation. She
believes in her child’s potential and lives by the belief that Temple is
“different, but not less”. She herself faces guilt and distress but she is aware
of her circumstances and is good at self-management.
Temples mother and aunt work together and help each other in difficult
situations. They communicate and share with each other anytime things get
tricky with Temple. It's a classic example of teamwork and how asking for
and accepting help and support actually can bring different perspectives to
the table and lead to better results and management.
Another big contributor in Temple’s life is Dr. Carlock who takes active
interest in understanding the workings of her brain and how she operates
differently in everyday scenarios. He is compassionate and understands her
mother's need for protecting her child and also making sure that she is
respected.
In a way he proves as one of the change catalysts for Temple when he
influences her and convinces her to hone her skills and productively put
them forward to move ahead in life. He encourages her to get a college
education and guides her appropriately about her options based on her
interest and skills.
He leads by examples and recognises Temple’s need for practical and hands
on knowledge. He is an inspirational leader who introduces Temple to new
vision of how her life could be. We also see him display a lot of empathy as
answers Temple’s questions and is sensitive to her needs. He celebrates
intelligence and success and realises how important it is for her to feel
appreciated and accepted.
Temple herself is seen communicating fairly clearly about her requirements.
She is full of innovative ideas and executes then beautifully she is self-
aware in the sense that she knows about her strengths, weaknesses, likes
and dislikes. In a conversation with authorities at a slaughter house where
she hopes to execute her plans of the new humane system, she explains
how she is able to have a different perspective that most people can’t and
how that’s her strength. She knows what works for her and what doesn't.
Temple is sure of her actions and reasons behind it she is strong willed and
bent on getting what she thinks she deserves. We see her unwavering
resolve when she refuses to give up on her squeeze machine and goes
through the process of rigorous scientific study to prove its practical
function and applicability. She writes a detailed report on her study and
demands that she get the grade that she rightly deserves for it.
She's also acutely aware of her surroundings and is very resourceful. She
constantly seeks to improve function and make work easier around her
aunt’s Ranch and everywhere else.
Temple makes friends with her roommate who is very perceptive and
accepting of her behaviour. She does not judge her for her need to use the
squeeze machine and this helps Temple to feel connected with her. We see
the extent of their connect and attachment when she invites her to see the
new system she develops for the slaughter houses saying that only she can
truly feel and understand what Temple is trying to achieve there.
The characters really show us how important compassion, empathy, self-
awareness and persistence are in the long run and how they can help to
really overcome any obstacle thrown to us.
We must learn to see different perspectives and understand the needs of
others. Temple in fact even teaches us empathize with and understand
animals. she believes that “nature is cruel but that doesn't mean we have
to be”.
She believes that we owe respect to the animals even though they have
been bred for our needs. She passionately fought for the humane treatment
of cattle in holding pens and slaughterhouses.
She is proof that individuals with autism can lead productive and notable
lives. She continues to be a living inspiration everybody and she has taught
us that you can achieve great heights despite all odds if only you refuse to
give up.