Sanctuary Dream
Growing up is never easy. Finding your own path to self-discovery is not a walk in the park. Can you imagine how much more challenging it is for a person with special needs, someone with autism spectrum disorder? It is often said that with the help and support of the family, situations are a little less difficult for someone with special needs. But what if the house is not a home. When that special person feels unsafe, threatened, and unwelcome. When the environment isn’t even fit for a normal human being? Just imagining it truly breaks my heart, until I saw a film about it that crushed it even more. Today’s review is from a film called “Sanctuary Dream” by Grant Carsten. A film that will open your eyes to the painful reality of living under a family of abuse and domestic violence from the point of view of someone with an autism spectrum.
Sanctuary Dream tells the story of a young man named Faisal Ost. At first glance, Faisal seems like your normal teenage guy, but he is more than the average. He sees and feels the world on a different level because of his autism. He lives under the roof of his parents along with a brother. However, Faisal’s family isn’t the ideal home for someone like him. Living with a cruel brother and an equally abusive father, the entirety of Faisal’s life is molded with fear and mistrust. A life filled with apprehension that for someone like him aggregates the experience to triple. Just like anyone in Faisal’s shoes, he decided to get out of this life. He took the courage to try and look after himself and get himself somewhere safe. He set on a journey to find a so-called Peace House. Oblivious to the difficulty and danger of the bigger world, Faisal’s search for the Peace House seems to get farther and farther with every step until it landed him to the last place he’d ever wish to be. Will he be able to find his way to this peace house? Or does this peace house ever exist? That, my readers, is a worthy discovery, so better be on the lookout for this movie.
Generally, this movie is a bit sad, however, I like it because it is a story that needs to be told. What made it a standout for me is it will make you think that you’re just watching what is Faisal going through, but the truth is that it makes you see Faisal’s perspective on what is going around him. The camera angles and the zoom-ins excellently represent the magnitude of his feelings and emotions, as well as the energy of the situation. And of course, aside from director Grant Carsten’s raw and creative storytelling, lead actor Traven Thomas’s (Faisal Ost) performance was exceptionally moving and impressive. I appreciate the authenticity he gave to his character. His acting showcased the depth of his understanding of what Faisal is going through, and he clearly did an incredibly amazing job in delivering his story. Overall, Sanctuary Dream entails a relevant deal about family, domestic violence, and trauma, a must-see for all.
Review by Helena Zurc – Utah Film Festival Screener
