RE: New Movie on Autism: Sigourney Weaver in Snow Cake

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Reply-To: sList Subject: New Movie on Autism: Sigourney Weaver in Snow CakeDate: Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:40:31 -0400

New Movie on Autism: Sigourney Weaver in Snow Cake

Sun Aug 6, 2006 7:37 am (PST)

http://www.sundayherald.com/57057Sigourney Weaver in Snow Cakenne Gray talks to Sigourney Weaver ahead of her visit to theEdinburgh Film FestivalFOR years in Hollywood, autism has only meant one thing: Hoffmanin Rain Man. That -winning performance in 1988 brought thecondition to a mass audience but, though undoubtedly well-intentioned,Hoffman's obsessive toothpick-counting character has become culturalshorthand for a very complicated condition.In her new film Snow Cake, Sigourney Weaver plays a very different kindof autistic. Her character, , keeps a very clean house but alsohas an unorthodox approach to Scrabble, bounces around on a backyardtrampoline and - in the quirk that gives the film its title - enjoyseating snow in her Ontario back garden. Her relatively carefreeexistence is disturbed by the arrival of an English ex-convict (AlanRickman), bearing news that her daughter has been killed in a caraccident, which marks the start of a very unusual relationship.For 57-year-old Weaver, it's just the latest in a long line ofintriguing roles, from the statuesque Dana Barrett in the Ghostbustersseries to haunted Alice Hunt in The Village. She's repeatedlydemonstrated her mastery of both comedy (Working Girl, Galaxy Quest)and drama (The Year Of Living Dangerously, Death And The Maiden), andhas cemented her place in Hollywood history with her defiant, iconicportrayal of Lt Ellen Ripley in the Alien series.As well as travelling with Snow Cake at the Edinburgh International FilmFestival, Weaver will be in conversation with EIFF director Shanesen as part of the Sunday Herald-sponsored Reel Life strand, aunique chance to hear the actress herself reflect on her past, presentand future. But before that, she reveals how she approached one of hermost challenging roles yet.How did you prepare to play a high-functioning autistic?It took me a long time even to understand how to prepare for this partbecause every person with autism is unique and to find someone like took me a long time. It was one of the most fascinating years Ihave ever spent researching a role. I learned so much and met so manywonderful people, and it was very satisfying to get to use thatresearch in the part. I had a lot of help, and I am grateful toeveryone who tried to help me do this accurately.How did you get the part?I found it through the director, Marc , and my agent. The scripthad this fine balance of comedy and romance yet managed to throw somereal light on the subject of autism.Is the script what drew you to Snow Cake in the first place?The script was so lovely and redemptive and had real human beings in it.The writer, Pell, has an autistic son which gave her the roots ofthe whole film. So all my experiences, bouncing on the trampoline andeating snow - that is all down to her son. She wanted to write a filmthat showed that sometimes autistic people can be a pain but most ofthe time it's very good fun and enlightening. I wanted to do the filmas soon as I read the script. The film was not just about autism, itwas about a very special woman who also happened to have autism.Has the way you go "looking for work" changed over the years?I think it's hard for actors to find projects as wonderful as Snow Cake.The experience of working together in such a tight ensemble, such anintimate experience is something I enjoyed very much but with actingyou have to set sail and go and see what comes. I can only speak formyself. You cannot have extraordinarily high standards. You have tofollow your gut and look for something that moves you, and that youwould want to see and is a story that you would want to tell.What did you discover studying autism?I think the world concentrates on seeing people in terms of assets anddeficits and people think of autism as a definite deficit for thosethat have it. Having worked and been with people on the autism spectrumfor many months I think we have to begin to see it as a gift - we maynot understand what is there, but if you are in the presence of someonewith autism for a long time, you learn so much. You learn how to play,you learn how to see things differently, you learn how to experiencethings, and you also learn how jarring the world is. I re-experiencedlearning how to enjoy really simple things. I loved the time I got tospend with autistic people and I consider them as friends.Are you any closer to working out what is "typical" when it comes toautism?I guess yes and no. What I perceived is that there are problems that areshared by a lot of people on the spectrum. They have those in common.But as for every person I have met they are completely unique. Iwouldn't want to be in the business of generalising about thisparticular condition.You have said that you normally find acting very difficult ...It can be if actors aren't there for each other. In this film, Alan[Rickman] respected what I was trying to do and we always tried to bethere for each other. The scenes were complex and go all over theplace, but it was an amazing ensemble experience to have that trust. Ifelt that we were like trapeze artists and every time I was in the airhe caught me.What are the main differences between the work you're doing now and theroles you were being offered 20 years ago?You presume a lot of control over where your career goes. I think thatis an illusion. You are offered certain things when you are younger.Actually, I always felt happy not to get too many girlfriend roles, butI would have liked to do more love stories. But you deal with the handyou are dealt.Do you still want to play strong women?I have enjoyed life after Alien because I have gotten to do so manydifferent things and I have been so fortunate with the choices I'vebeen able to make but I do not try to play weak women. I have notchanged the way I approach my work. It just happens to be that now I amdoing less archetypal characters.Why do you think you're typecast in strong parts?I don't know! I'm always amazed by the way such parts come to me. Arethe women I play always strong-willed and strong-minded? Yes, but Ithink we women are strong and, you know, we hold the world together.

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