What do you do when science fails to help your child? The Horse Boy is the Isaacson's answer. Writer Rupert Isaacson and his psychology professor wife, Kristin Neff, have an autistic son, Rowan. Texas filmaker Michael Orion Scott follows them on a journey to Mongolia to find Shamans who might heal Rowan.
In autism, a person's brain is wired in such a way that they may be flooded with details that get in the way of normal social interaction. Rowan was subject to tantrums, isolation from his peers and physical incontinence. Rowan's parents said he seemed to drift away to another place. They wanted to find a way into his world. They discovered he had a special relationship with animals. Rupert planned a trip to Mongolia where they had both horses and Shamans together. he was looking for a miracle. Kristen was skeptical, but agreed to go along.
Scott excels at maintaining the suspense. We at first expect Rowan to be healed. Then we begin to wonder if the Isaacson's trip will be an utter failure, and a lesson for us to not believe in miracles. In the end we are satisfied, though. The final Shaman calls his shot saying Rowan will stop his tantrums tomorrow and start to poo poo in the pot. He does. We can wonder if the Shaman really did it or the events just coincided with the family being pushed to the edge.
The most satisfying part though, is the change in the perception of the mother and father. They could have continued in believing in this culture's view of Rowan as being sick, but they changed. They accept him as just being a different sort of person.
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