Louis Theroux: Extreme Love

In April 2012, BBC Two aired a documentary called “Extreme Love”. This was Louis Theroux latest adventure. In episode one of this two episode series, Theroux, an English broadcaster, travels to America to learn about autism and the affects it has on children with the condition and their families. Theroux travels to DLC Warren in New Jersey. DLC Warren is one of the most innovative schools of its kind for young people who have autism. Theroux takes the viewers on a journey through “the pleasures and pain” of the relationships shared between the parents and their children. This documentary gives the viewer a real insight into what it is like living with someone with autism. It does not cover up the hardships faced by parents. Theroux shows life for these families as it is. It is truthful, moving and informative.

One young man Theroux met was Nicky. Nicky is 19years old and he has made great progress in DLC Warren and he is moving on to a new mainstream school to continue his studies. His move causes him great anxiety. He is anxious about leaving his old friends and about the classes and the work being harder. Nicky tells Theroux that he has a “fear of getting homework”. Theroux visits Nicky’s home to meet his family and learn more about Nicky. Nicky was eighteen months old when his mother noticed there was something different about Nicky. Theroux asks Nicky’s mother if she could, would she take away Nicky’s autism and she replies no. She says “He’s too special”. Nicky shows Theroux some of his work. He has written several different dictionaries in different languages. He has also written a novel “Dragonula” that he reads for Theroux and his camera crew. Nicky and Theroux strike up a friendship. Nicky proves to be a chatty, sociable and self-assured young man. He does suffer from anxiety. Although he is anxious about change he is willing to accept it.

Theroux also meets a lady called Josephine and her some Brian. Brian does not live at home. Brian was prone to outbursts and often assaulted his mother. She could not handle it anymore so he lives in a group home. It is of course difficult for his mother to be away from him but she had no choice. Josephine clearly loves her son but she was not able to handle his behaviour on her own. She was afraid of him. She says that living with her son was “unbearable”. He would lash out on his mother for little or nothing. It was difficult bringing him up. She is sad however that her son does not live with her anymore. Since he moved to the group home his behaviour has improved. He was put on medication which helped calm him down. He stays there during the week and comes to visit his mother on the weekend. From watching Brian on the show, he seems very sociable and loving. Theroux was struck by his warmth and how friendly Brian is.

Joey has being diagnosed as severely autistic. This is because of his lack of communication. He has a tendency to have aggressive tantrums. He has being known to lash out in school and home. There is a scene in the documentary where Joey starts to have a tantrum. His mother has to wrestle him to the floor to try and calm him down. His mother needed help from her husband to hold Joey down. They had to lie Joey down on the ground and lie on top of him to try and keep Joey under control. Theroux asks if they want the camera’s to step out for a moment and Joey’s mother says no. She says to Theroux, “Unless I let you film it, nobody is going to ever know that this is true autism…A lot of parents don’t want you to see that”.  Theroux asks Joey’s mother is she would take away Joeys autism is she could. She replies yes she would. Joey is getting bigger and stronger. There are times his parents worry about his strength. It is getting harder and harder for them to control him.  No matter what, they still love their child. Just some days are harder than others.

 Some of the scenes throughout the documentary are very difficult to watch. Theroux shows the audience the extremes of autism. He shows the good times and bad times. Parents talk about how they feel and express their concern for their children and their future. This documentary shows how huge the autism spectrum is. There is no specific characteristic that one child has and another does not. This documentary shows the extremes of autism. It is honest and at times brutal. Each of the young people Theroux met while making this are all very different from one another. Each of them has their own difficulties and faces their own struggles. They are all unique. Their families support them and love them no matter what. In the end that is what counts and that is what all children deserve.

“The pleasures and the strains of one of the most extraordinary kinds of relationships” (Extreme Love-Autism, 2012)