Temple Grandin opens doors

Subject of an Emmy-winning television movie and a groundbreaking leader in understanding the disparate subjects of animal behavior and human autism, Temple Grandin makes a worthy documentary topic. Yet writers Christine Alice and John Barnhardt sidestep before getting to the heart of their subject in Temple Granden: An Open Door. They take advantage of their access to Grandin herself and begin with a shot of a flock in the air as she narrates her admiration for birds and flying; great, but as the film’s title indicates, part of Grandin’s true impact comes from viewing life and setbacks as opportunity—an open door as she explains later. Without knowing anything about Grandin, newcomers might simply see a woman who appreciates birds and shows a flair for wearing colorful cowboy shirts. Those who watched the 2010 biopic Temple Grandin featuring Claire Danes’ Emmy winning performance or read seminal works like Animals in Translation or Thinking in Pictures know better; as one of the new documentary’s commentator notes about the author, “she’s a rock star.” Well, rock star in the world of making a difference. The Open Door documentary expands on that appreciation for Grandin by showing the woman herself, often in a variety of talking head situations but also working with students and animals and the autism community, areas where an ability to explain her insights about differing perspectives have led to better lives. The documentary itself works best as a door opener—motivation to follow up by reading Grandin’s books or if the chance arises, catching one of her presentations.