Stephen Markey

June 7, 2021
TED 525

Disability Awareness in Rain Man (1988)

“…the media has the potential to create lasting change in the hearts and minds of the public with respect
to…minority groups.” – Judith E, Heumann, Road Map for Inclusion

Rain Man (1988), a movie which won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best

Original Screenplay, is a story told about a cross-country car ride for 2 brothers (Charlie - played by Tom

Cruise, and Raymond – played by Dustin Hoffman). At the beginning of the move, Charlie returns to his

childhood home after finding out his father, whom he had not been talking to for a long time, has passed

away. Charlie discovers he has an autistic brother named Raymond (Rain Man) who has been in a mental

institution for most of Charlie’s life. Charlie checks Raymond out of the institution, and their journey

back to Charlies’ home in Los Angeles changes both of their lives forever.

How was Raymond portrayed in the film? Raymond is an Autistic Savant who follows strict

routines, displays unbelievable abilities in some areas like recall, and shows no emotions unless he is

upset or distressed. It appears that there may be a lot of differing opinions on this, but I believe the movie

portrayed autism in a in a positive light. Not only were his recall abilities incredible, but the movie

allowed a bond between the two brothers to develop during the movie. At the movie’s end, Raymond

moves in with Charlie and they enjoy going to baseball games together.

I don’t know a lot about autism myself, but it seems to me after reading up on Autistic Savants

that the depiction of the disability appears fairly accurate. I believe the film focused a spotlight on autism

while also providing a better understanding of the disability, as autism was not an illness that was not well

known in 1988. I believe no representation of Autism will ever going to satisfy everyone, but the movie

does show Raymond’s humanity in a dignified manner; the fact this movie was more about two brothers

finding they love each other and accepting each other as they are instead of focusing on the disability is

telling, especially so in 1988.