An autistic boy witnesses his parents' double murder. A controversial therapist seeks to probe the child's mind in order to solve the case.An autistic boy witnesses his parents' double murder. A controversial therapist seeks to probe the child's mind in order to solve the case.An autistic boy witnesses his parents' double murder. A controversial therapist seeks to probe the child's mind in order to solve the case.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Marianne E. Bomba
- Twin #2
- (as Marianne M. Bomba)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsTim couldn't possibly mimic the voices due to their differences and his age.
- Quotes
Dr. Jake Rainer: Abuse victims are always the best actors. They have to be, to live their whole lives with the pain and shame pretending there is nothing wrong. It's the greatest performance of all
- SoundtracksComin' Back To Me
Performed by Joe Diffie
Featured review
Film Tutorial On Autism
An autistic boy appears to be the only witness to a murder. Because of the boy's inability to communicate with others, a child psychiatrist must work with the child to solve the crime. I presume that the film's "take" on autism is at least reasonably accurate. But, as a murder mystery, the film was a disappointment. There just isn't that much to the story, which contains large amounts of filler. The plot is contrived. And the film's pace is very slow.
One gets the impression that the real purpose of the film is to "teach", or tutor, viewers on the subject of autism. I have no problem with that, except that by using a vulnerable child as a major character, the film becomes manipulative, in that it uses the child to invoke a sympathetic response from viewers.
The film's music, costumes, and production design are fine. Ben Faulkner, as the little boy, does a fine job in a difficult role. Other actors also give credible performances. But Richard Dreyfuss, as the psychiatrist, is dreadfully miscast. An older actor with a more refined persona would have been more believable.
If you have an interest in autism, "Silent Fall" is worth watching. And the film does have moments of suspense, especially toward the end. But the film lacks the complexity and depth to be a truly entertaining whodunit.
One gets the impression that the real purpose of the film is to "teach", or tutor, viewers on the subject of autism. I have no problem with that, except that by using a vulnerable child as a major character, the film becomes manipulative, in that it uses the child to invoke a sympathetic response from viewers.
The film's music, costumes, and production design are fine. Ben Faulkner, as the little boy, does a fine job in a difficult role. Other actors also give credible performances. But Richard Dreyfuss, as the psychiatrist, is dreadfully miscast. An older actor with a more refined persona would have been more believable.
If you have an interest in autism, "Silent Fall" is worth watching. And the film does have moments of suspense, especially toward the end. But the film lacks the complexity and depth to be a truly entertaining whodunit.
- Lechuguilla
- Apr 21, 2007
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $30,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,180,674
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,531,244
- Oct 30, 1994
- Gross worldwide
- $3,180,674
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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