The term ‘autism’ can be in interpreted as a different way of thinking that should be recognised and respected as a social category (neurodiversity). Therefore, the right question is ‘What is different about an autist?’ and not ‘What is wrong with him?’ This film does not perceive autism as a diagnosis but as a mysterious way of thinking that might bring a certain message to the majority of society, or which could attract attention to the so-called ‘normal life’ people live.
Miroslav Janek was born in Náchod in 1954. From a young age he devoted himself to amateur film, and he shot several films as a self-taught filmmaker. In 1979, he emigrated to Germany and later went to the USA, where he primarily made a name for himself as an editor. His most important work was probably his collaboration with director Godfrey Reggio on the internationally acclaimed compilation films Powaqqatsi (1988), Anima Mundi (1992) and Naqoyqatsi (2002). Since returning to the Czech Republic in 1993, he has devoted himself to his own documentaries as a cameraman and director. His film about blind children with a camera, The Unseen (Nespatřené, 1996) has won the most accolades, both at home and abroad. In recent times, his documentary films Kha-chee-pae (Chacipe – 2006) and Vierka (2005) have won prizes at several festivals.
Selected: Powaqqatsi (1988), Anima Mundi (1992), The Unseen(1996), Naqoyqatsi (2002), Vierka (2005), Chacipe (2006)
