Escaping Beyond the Shadow Thrown by the Limits of Body and Mind – Savant Syndrome in Filmmakers’ Optics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18778/2450-4491.16.17Keywords:
savant syndrome, special abilities, film biographyAbstract
The main aim of this article is to present two stories of savant figures who have been, on the one hand, significant personalities in the world of science and, on the other hand, have struggled with neurodevelopmental disorders and schizophrenia. These figures are Temple Grandin and John Nash. Their stories have also inspired the filmmakers of two films which have already become part of the cinematic canon and won multiple accolades, including awards for the main actors who created brilliant portraits of the neurodivergent geniuses. The hermeneutical analysis of these motion pictures is aimed at showing the specific ways in which the prodigious savants function, with particular focus on the role played by the closest social environment in creating conditions beneficial for the development of their special talents.
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