The Cinematheque

“A revelatory and empathetic film that explores neurodiversity in an innovative way, culminating in an ecstatic and cathartic conclusion.”

Kristina Rothstein, DOXA

Inspired by the concept of an ​“autistic camera,” The Stimming Pool is a brilliant exercise in collaborative filmmaking in which the lived experiences of several neurodiverse artists reign supreme. A film curator of a B‑movie film club shares his fascination with underground horror with an engaged audience; a woman takes an eye-tracking biomarker test; a worker tries to settle into a busy office full of overwhelming background noises; an illustration book tells the story of a Border Collie turned superhero who watches over people with disabilities. Influenced by the visual landscape of Jacques Tati’s Playtime and the magical realism of Apichatpong Weerasethakul, The Stimming Pool is rhizomatic in its approach, offering a medley of scenes that are associative rather than linear. Recurring patterns, documentary vérité footage, and fantastical performances and animation result in a deeply immersive film wherein a plurality of perspectives collide to provide a uniquely sensorial viewing experience for neurodiverse and neurotypical audiences alike.

Post-screening discussion with Javier Herrera and Kenzie Curby, both neurodiverse individuals and advocates.

Moderated by Selina Crammond, series programmer.