Autism spectrum in Mary and Max movie

Mary and Max

1/19/2015

An 8 year old girl from Australia becomes a pen friend to to a middle aged man in New York City with Asperger's Syndrome.

This quirky animated black comedy explores the friendship of two social misfits through their letters. Among Max's mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, he is also diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. He calls himself an Aspie and goes on to describe the traits he has which fit what others call his "disability". Max stands firm in his self-assessment that he doesn't feel defective or need to be cured. He simply doesn't understand how humans can be so illogical. When Mary writes a book about his disorder, their friendship is sorely tested. This film doesn't hold back on black humor nor the effects of not being accepted. A movie about friendship.

3 Comments

Junjie Li

3/4/2016 05:47:53 pm

The film uses the form of child animation to display the topics of Autism, death, and suicide. However, I think this film was full of hope for humanity even though the ending was a little bit sad. I was impressed when I saw the roof of Max’s house was covered by Mary’s letters. Two strangers communicate with each other through the mail for 20 years. One is an eight-year-old lonely girl suffering from depression with no friends The other is almost 40 years older than that girl, living in New York with Asperger’s syndrome, who has trouble forming close bonds with other people. This is mainly due to various mental and social problems. Perhaps due to Max's lack of intelligence by autism, he can communicate to Mary with Mary-chidden style. It was because of Max’s company, the little girl has a sense of friendship, which makes her feel less lonely. Through all of the exchanged letters, it ultimately shows how closed out these two people are to the audience.

Jazmine Colon

3/5/2016 10:22:21 am

Heavy themes and twisted humor mix effortlessly in Adam Elliot’s claymation film about an unlikely friendship between a depressed 8-year-old, Mary, and an older, overweight man with Asperger’s Syndrome, Max. As Junjie stated, Max’s mental disability greatly contributed to his ability to communicate and develop an unconventional friendship with Mary. Now placed under the umbrella term of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Asperger’s hinders a person from understanding the subtle messages of others sent through facial expressions and body language. This mental barrier is also a major contribution to how close the two became which, grew to be stronger and more complex than just their common love for chocolate and The Noblets. Although they had major bumps along their 20 years of being pen pals, Max always appeared when Mary would fall deeper into depression and ultimately lift her out of it whether through written letters or gifts.

"Asperger Syndrome and Adults." Better Health Channel. Amaze, July 2013. Web. 05 Mar. 2016.

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Mary and Max

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