Temple Grandin

As far as movie titles go, her name needs no embellishment. Temple Grandin stands alone. Claire Danes plays Grandin, a renowned American author and scholar on the human-animal relationship who lives with autism. This is a memory play, with symbolic and illustrative animation used, more than it is a biopic. Scenes stand out and are played as segments in a series of memories or recollections. It’s a bit blockish in that way. But the blocks build in viewers a healthy respect for Grandin, who developed pioneering theory and practice of humane livestock handling and slaughter. Danes’ Emmy-winning, propulsive, honest performance gives Grandin fuller dimension (we witness her anger, fear, her intellect and perseverance). It also reflects Grandin’s thought that since many of us are going to use (kill and eat) animals anyway, we can at try to show them some respect.