An Audience Member Shares His Experience at The Horse Boy in DC

The Horse Boy Film: A Viewer’s Reaction by Bill Kirst

Community Cinema Audience Member Bill Kirst

I first heard about the story of the Horse Boy when my sister, Marguerite Kirst Colston, was going on a book tour its author, Rupert Isaacson. During her trip, my sister recommended I pick up a copy of the book at the bookstore. It wasn’t until I got an invite to the pre-screening of the film adaptation that I remembered I had ordered the book on my Kindle. I was excited to hear that the story had been turned into a documentary-style film.

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon when I walked over to Busboys & Poets in Washington, D.C., to see the Community Cinema screening. There I met up with my sister, her friends, and co-workers from the Autism Society. After a brief introduction about the PBS Film Festival, the movie started.

Immediately I was introduced to Rowan, a boy with autism. Rowan is playing with his toys in the living room. His dad, Rupert, is filming and trying to get Rowan’s attention, hoping he will say his name. Rowan doesn’t respond to his father and focuses attentively on his toys. This was a very familiar scene to me as an uncle. My nephew, Camden, also has autism. I was immediately captivated by Rowan and his similar behaviors. The tantrums, the inability to communicate, his repetitive moment — all of this was just like what I had seen in Camden.

Yetta Myrick (left) and Marguerite Kirst Colston speak at a Community Cinema screening of “The Horse Boy” April 11 at Busboys & Poets in Washington, D.C.

As I listened to Rupert narrate his story, and echo his frustrations at not being able to communicate with his son, it tore at me. I thought about my nephew and his mom and sister and how it challenges them as a family each and every day. I recognized the same struggles in Rowan as I do in Camden. At times, I felt as if Rupert was reading from the same script or playing to same soundtrack that my sister had once lived.

My emotions ran from low to high as the film progressed and I was reminded of the extreme intelligence and true innocence these children bring to us everyday. I watched a scene unfold where Rowan organizes his animal toys in logical and natural categories without any prompting or instruction. For years I saw similar behavior from Camden, who would take anything apart and put it back together in a calculated and organized fashion with no instruction or guidance. I never underestimate the cognitive power of children with autism. I know they experience life at a heightened level, and I believe that can help us see things differently, perhaps more clearly.

The moment in the film I can’t forget is when Rowan runs up to a horse and immediately establishes an unexpected connection with the majestic animal. When Rupert risks putting his son on the horse’s back, he experiences a near miracle. While in contact with the horse Rowan enters a state of relaxation and ease he has not experienced before. Rowan speaks in a full sentence to say “He’s a nice horse.” This simple exchange opens up a world of possibilities for Rowan and his family as they embark on a journey to better understand autism as they heal and grow as a family.

Tags: Audience Talkback, autism, busboys and poets, Washington DC