MovieChat Forums > The A Word (2016) Discussion > Questions

Questions

posted 9 years ago by jamesbloke
11 replies | jump to latest

Why was Joe wandering alone along the road at the beginning? He seemed to be picked up by two perfect strangers and delivered home. Why were his parents not at all concerned? Why did they call him a genius?

[–] Prismark10 9 years ago

That opening was a bit strange. A 5 year old walking on his own. Obviously the van driver knew him and the parents expected him to be delivered.

It's that man again!!

[–] jamesbloke 9 years ago

Why did Joe slap his father?

[–] connexions-17117 9 years ago

Because most Autistic kids will hit close relatives - because they have trouble expressing them selves.

[–] vipper77 8 years ago

My 4 year old autistic daughter has hit me and her mother at times. It's just part of autism.

[–] artistathome 8 years ago

Some children on the spectrum are merely sensory disabled. they retain a sense of humor, they did not lose abilities, like speech or reasoning.

the child in this series is disabled in a way I have never seen.

[–] miss_spookiness_ 9 years ago

I hope your questions have been answered by watching more of the series - but the people who picked him up were known to him (they are the Polish people who know his dad and uncle) and were known to his family - it's obviously a regular occurance, and his parents obviously know by that point that he will be picked up by the people who drive along that way, so they've probably got over some of their concern. They call him a genius because they want to reassure themselves (and him, although he understands less) that he doesn't have anything wrong with him.

[–] benjamin-twist 9 years ago

Regularly calling someone a genius is pointing out that they DO have something wrong with them, wrong in the sense that it will make you stick out. Not everyone wants to stick out even if they are clever.

[–] alison1963 9 years ago

Well, having seen a few episodes now, I think we all know that the lovely lad doesn't give two hoots what people think of him, he lives in his own world. The morning walk is a routine he's got into, obviously enjoys, and one that his parents should be stopping (due to obvious dangers of a 5-year-old child being a) out on his own and b) on the road on his own, as well as other very clear reasons) but don't, as they obviously pander to him rather than attempt to curtail this pretty dangerous activity. Even after his diagnosis they allow it, knowing that it's not a sign of 'genius' at all.
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[–] jamesbloke 9 years ago

From what I've seen (only the first ep.) he's not a "lovely lad" - he slaps his father and, in your words, "doesn't give two hoots what people think of him". It's this unlikeability, not just of Joe but most of the other characters, which made me stop watching.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] alison1963 9 years ago

deleted - duplicate

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I'm the player to be named later.