A new documentary is casting fresh light on one of the nation’s most well-known people with autism.
The film “An Open Door,” which premieres on several major streaming services Tuesday, offers a look at Temple Grandin and her contributions as a leading voice on autism as well as an expert in livestock handling.
“I’ve learned more from Temple just being around her than from any book, and I’ve tried to convey that with this film,” said John Barnhardt who directed and produced the documentary. “At 77, Temple continues to live with purpose, inspiring millions by showing that different minds are essential for solving global problems.”
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Grandin did not speak until she was 3½, but her unique way of thinking ultimately allowed her to become an expert on animal handling and a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Today more than half the cattle in this country are handled in facilities Grandin designed and she’s written and spoken extensively about her experiences as a person with autism.
“I had absolutely no idea that my thinking was different than other people until my late thirties,” Grandin says in the film’s trailer. “What I had to do is be very good at what I did.”
The film incorporates Grandin’s own words and perspective from colleagues, industry professionals and people she’s inspired.
“In a world that often idolizes athletes, rock stars and superheroes, we want people to know there’s a real hero who wears a bolo tie, has spent more than 30 years teaching animal sciences at CSU, and continues to inspire millions,” said John Festervand, executive producer of the film. “This film feels especially relevant right now because solving today’s challenges requires us to recognize that everyone thinks differently — and that difference is a strength. Temple Grandin has lived that truth, turning what set her apart into a gift that reshaped both agriculture and the way we understand autism and each other.”
Grandin has written several books and she was the subject of an Emmy-winning HBO biopic in 2010, but this is the first feature-length documentary made about her, Festervand said.
“An Open Door” is available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Fandango At Home, Google Play and YouTube Movies.
