movie review of mozart and the whale

A Review of Mozart and the Whale – Currently playing on Netflix

Mozart and the Whale is a film adapted from Jerry Newport and Mary Newport’s autobiographical book Mozart and the Whale: An Asperger’s Love Tale .

By Nils Skudra

I first watched the 2005 film Mozart and the Whale several years ago and have since viewed it numerous times. I just saw it again recently and felt moved to offer my perspective on the film drawing upon my experiences as an advocate in the autism community and as the president of Spectrum at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro (a campus organization I co-founded for students with autism). The film’s insights on autism significantly resonate with my own interactions with individuals on the autism spectrum, and it provides a heartwarming but keen lens into the ways in which having autism can shape a romantic relationship between two people who share the diagnosis.

The film revolves around Donald Morton (aptly portrayed by Josh Hartnett), a cab driver in Spokane, Washington who has Asperger’s Syndrome (commonly referred to today as high-functioning autism). He leads a small support group comprised mostly of young adults with varying degrees of autism. Donald is a mathematical savant who can instantly come up with the correct answer for very difficult equations and who resorts to thinking in numbers in any given circumstance, whether during his cab route or in a casual conversation. Clearly, this functions as his particular way of not only determining how to approach a particular situation, but it also serves to calm him down in moments of extreme anxiety. At the same time, Donald struggles with significant social challenges that include difficulty in making eye contact; discerning whether other people are interested in what he is saying (exemplified during the film’s opening scene in which Donald consistently expresses his mathematical thinking to two passengers who are locked in their own conversation and paying him no mind); and responding appropriately to certain social situations. This is demonstrated during the aforementioned scene when Donald accidentally drives into a flower truck, spilling its contents all over the front of his cab, and promptly leaves the scene without addressing the angry demands of the truck owner or the needs of his puzzled passengers.

Donald’s life takes a turn on this same day when he meets Isabelle Sorensen (depicted by Australian actress Radha Mitchell), a hair stylist who shares his Asperger’s diagnosis and is a musical savant with a superlative knowledge of pieces by Mozart and the emotions that they convey. Isabelle also exhibits many of the traits associated with Asperger’s Syndrome, including a tendency to speak her mind directly as thoughts come to her; to take certain statements literally; and possessing an unusually keen attention to detail and organization. She initially gets off on the wrong foot with the group when Gracie, a differently-functioning member who specializes in presidential history and constantly smiles even when discussing unpleasant topics, laughs uncontrollably after hearing Isabelle’s story of being raped as a teenage hitchhiker, prompting an angered Isabelle to argue with Donald about his handling of the group and how she is perceived by them, saying “I’m weird, but I’m not strange.” However, when she tells him that he is missing her point, Donald replies “No, I’m not! I just – never know what to say.” This response causes Isabelle to reflect for a moment and then laugh out loud, stating “Neither do I.” The revelation of this common trait thus serves as a catalyst for the ensuing ultimately romantic relationship between Donald and Isabelle.

Sometime later Donald decides to take Isabelle to the group’s Halloween party but procrastinates for hours, uncertain about dressing in his whale costume while Isabelle, dressed up as Mozart, waits in the mall. She finally arrives at Donald’s apartment and convinces him to accompany her, whilst displaying a liking to his whale costume which, he explains, “expresses who I am.” They subsequently start dating, with Donald taking Isabelle to the fairgrounds and openly revealing more about how his mathematical thinking proceeds in a visual process. However, the date nearly becomes a complete disaster when Donald takes a turn at metal ring toss, prompting Isabelle to have a meltdown in which she screams “Stop it!” and holds her hands to her head, bobbing back and forth in order to calm herself down since she is terrified by loud noises. This episode prompts a crowd to gather around her in bewilderment until Donald, who has forgotten her previously mentioning her fear, suddenly comes to her aid and quickly whisks her off to his apartment.

As their relationship unfolds, the different Asperger’s traits that Isabelle and Donald exhibit periodically precipitate conflict between them since Donald is used to having his own particular often unorganized routine while Isabelle believes in order and perfection. This is manifested in the approach that Isabelle takes toward Donald’s apartment, organizing his newspapers in neat stacks, cleaning up the kitchen and putting its implements in their proper places, throwing out Donald’s dirty bath cover and replacing it with a new one, all of this albeit without his consent. When Donald arrives home, he is panicked to find the apartment arranged completely differently from the disorderly manner that he had previously kept it in, and loudly blurts out “You stole my life!” Although Isabelle meant to impress Donald by organizing his apartment and her intentions were good ones, his being accustomed to his own domestic arrangement is something that she failed to take the importance of into account. This prompts him to go into the apartment parking lot, reciting the numbers methodically from the different license plates and coming up with information about them in an effort to calm himself down. While he eventually comes around and accepts the new arrangement, this clash of personality traits, together with Donald’s and Isabelle’s respective attitudes toward being on the autism spectrum, continually poses a challenge to their relationship throughout the film.

Both Hartnett and Mitchell deliver superbly nuanced performances in capturing the different characterological and behavioral aspects of Asperger’s Syndrome and display a warm chemistry together. One of the intriguing points that the film delves into is the attitude that people on the autism spectrum take toward their diagnosis, a factor that constitutes a major issue of contention between Donald and Isabelle. After Donald secures a job as a data analyst at the local university, he tells Isabelle that he wants everything to be “all nice” (i.e. “normal”) for an impending dinner visit by his boss. This makes Isabelle indignant since she has no qualms about being herself as an autistic individual, and during the dinner she makes no effort to disguise her behavior, talking incessantly about her music interests, her personality and her plans for the new house that she and Donald have rented together, even while she chides Donald’s frequent interruptions as “very autistic.” Following the dinner, Donald and Isabelle engage in an intense argument in which he criticizes her for giving his boss the impression that they are “crazy.” This prompts Isabelle to declare that Donald wants to be normal and is scared of having people see who he truly is.

The perspectives articulated by Donald and Isabelle in this scene illustrate a stark dilemma that many people in the autistic community struggle with. For some individuals, the desire to fit in can lead them or their family members to make efforts to hide their autism, such as shunning the company of other people on the spectrum and choosing not to disclose their diagnosis when applying for a job or hanging out with neuro-typical friends. This has been pertinent to my own life since my mother initially did not tell me about my Asperger’s diagnosis because of her concern about stigmatization from my peers and the suggestion from the doctors at that time that I might require institutionalization. However, many other individuals view autism as part of their identity rather than something to be ashamed of, pointing to the innumerable intellectual and characterological strengths that it gives them in comparison to neuro-typical individuals, and consequently are proud of displaying their true colors. The aforementioned argument between Donald and Isabelle profoundly exemplifies this, and their difficulty with reconciling these divergent viewpoints threatens to tear their relationship apart.

All told, Mozart and the Whale is a superbly and sensitively crafted depiction of a romantic relationship between two people on the autism spectrum. The film not only captures the numerous factors that affect all romantic relationships, but its portrayal of the role that autism can play in such a relationship is especially compelling. The commonality of having Asperger’s Syndrome serves to bring the two protagonists together, but their different characterological traits constitute a catalyst for tension between them. Furthermore, the problem of reconciling Donald’s desire to blend in with Isabelle’s contentment with her identity as an autistic individual poses a major challenge to their prospects of maintaining a sustained relationship in which both can be happy.

While neuro-typical viewers who see the film may come away with new insights about the similarities and differences with respect to the factors that shape a relationship between autistic partners, viewers on the spectrum will be able to identify strongly with the issues that confront the characters, and the experience may provide them with a fresh perspective on how to navigate a successful relationship with partners who share their diagnosis.

I have also been pursuing a side career as a freelance journalist, and I have had at least 8 articles published in local magazines and newspapers from various cities and towns in North Carolina and in Pittverse Magazine (based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), which is staffed entirely by people on the autism spectrum. I am very keen on contributing articles as a regular blogger for the Art of Autism. Among my ideas for article topics are my experiences with disclosing my diagnosis in the workplace; and local businesses which are staffed by people on the spectrum and which donate their proceeds to autism causes. Through these blogs I hope to highlight the issues of autism’s portrayal in film, the challenges of discrimination that autistic individuals encounter in the workplace, and to promote support for local organizations that are dedicated to autism causes.”

You may also like

Artist Profile: Joseph “JD” Green

Michael: visual artist, MBA, #Asperger’s ; overcame 10-year battle with severe OCD…What is normal?

What makes a good support person

Spotlight on Inspiration Drum Line

Review of “I Can”

How to be an Ally of Autistic People

More stories.

Young autistic adults and parents find acceptance and community at unique Autism Movement Therapy workshop

Mozart and the Whale (2005)

• User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 98% The Wild Robot Link to The Wild Robot
• 80% The Outrun Link to The Outrun
• 100% Girls Will Be Girls Link to Girls Will Be Girls

New TV Tonight

• 90% The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: Season 2
• -- Heartstopper: Season 3
• -- Gremlins: The Wild Batch: Season 2
• -- The Legend of Vox Machina: Season 3
• -- Chef's Table: Noodles: Season 1
• -- Joan: Season 1
• -- Last Days of the Space Age: Season 1
• -- Love Is Blind: Season 7
• -- Dandadan: Season 1
• -- Scare Tactics: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 93% Nobody Wants This: Season 1
• 94% The Penguin: Season 1
• 83% Agatha All Along: Season 1
• 64% The Perfect Couple: Season 1
• 85% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
• 75% Grotesquerie: Season 1
• 100% From: Season 3
• -- Doctor Odyssey: Season 1
• 44% Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story: Season 2
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 93% Nobody Wants This: Season 1 Link to Nobody Wants This: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Interview with the Vampire : Season 3: Premiere Date, Trailer, Cast & More

Weekend Box Office: The Wild Robot

• Trending on RT
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Spooky Season
• Movie Re-Release Calendar
• TV Premiere Dates

Mozart & the Whale Reviews

Like Adam, this film is intended to offer a non-disabled audience a sense of "betterment." It's meant to be "uplifting," and "inspiring."

Full Review | Jan 11, 2021

Shapeless and redundant, this flick is exactly the sort of movie you'd envision if I said "mildly retarded yet physically gorgeous young romance."

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 12, 2006

Strong performances anchor this low-key romantic drama about two people with Asperger syndrome.

Full Review | Feb 22, 2006

From the first, there is a refreshing absence of special pleading or under-the-microscope examination in Naess' approach.

Full Review | Feb 7, 2006

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

• Start a new list…
• Add all films to a list…
• Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Mozart and the whale.

Directed by Petter Næss

A love story between two savants with Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism, whose conditions sabotage their budding relationship.

Josh Hartnett Radha Mitchell Gary Cole Sheila Kelley Erica Leerhsen John Carroll Lynch Nate Mooney Rusty Schwimmer Robert Wisdom Allen Evangelista Christa Campbell Kristopher Higgins

Director Director

Petter Næss

Producers Producers

James Acheson Boaz Davidson Ronald Bass

Writer Writer

Ronald Bass

Casting Casting

Deborah Aquila Tricia Wood

Editors Editors

Lisa Zeno Churgin Miklos Wright

Cinematography Cinematography

Svein Krøvel

Production Design Production Design

Jon Gary Steele

Art Direction Art Direction

Vincent DeFelice

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Traci Kirshbaum

Composer Composer

Deborah Lurie

Costume Design Costume Design

Equity Pictures Medienfonds GmbH & Co. KG II Millennium Media

Releases by Date

Theatrical limited, 10 sep 2005, 26 may 2008, releases by country.

• Physical 15
• Theatrical limited PG-13

92 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by megan ★½

was not about mozart and a whale

Review by Caitlin Manocchio ★½

Another film about individuals with Aspergers Syndrome with characters that are a cartoonish exaggeration on the extremist end of the spectrum. Not to mention it has the same screenwriter as Rain Man so the male Aspie character is basically the same person here as Dustin Hoffman was. The one plus the movie has going for is a female AS character, but I have major problems with her execution.

I guess neurotypical writers and directors think there's only one way to show Aspergers on the screen. It's called the Autistic Spectrum for a reason. It's no surprise the film was funded by Autism Speaks, an organization that considers Aspergers and Autism a disease and wants to cure all AS individuals since they're dysfunctional to society.

On the technical side there's several audio problems, continuity editing errors, and a love story that's never really developed. It's basically a typical Lifetime movie that wasn't made for Lifetime.

Review by RobynSummer 6

I appreciate that this film is a story about autistic characters almost entirely from the perspective of the autistic characters. A romance between two autistic people is a good idea that could easily have worked. Unfortunately, I do this this falls flat in execution.

Despite being from the perspective of autistic people, the framing of many scenes still invites us to look at them from a perspective other than theirs. We are still meant to see them as “weird”, when we should be seeing how “weird” the world looks to them. The members of Donald’s autistic support group aren’t treated as people, but rather as quirks. While I like that the story showcases how autism can affect each individual person…

Review by bookworm ★★★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Its hard to review a film that connects with you on multiple personal levels. Not only do I fall heavily on Asperger's spectrum, I've grown up in the North Idaho/Eastern WA area where this film was shot.

This isn't a typical love story, the main characters have to learn how to love in the first place. They've to learn how to connect with another & let each other in. Its beautiful and strange at the same time.

As a whole the film portrays Aspies quite well, with only a few faltering tangents. In typical fashion, a few rainman-esque characters are thrown into the film for comic relief. Ignoring such faults, the film is a heart warming look at Aspies & some of…

Review by 🥀 Berenice ★★★★ 4

Like someone else said, this is a hard movie to review. 

I don’t personally buy into the idea that autistics(or neurotypicals for that matter) can be portrayed on the screen without some dramatization. Someday that might happen, but until then, I will enjoy the films and tv that currently exist.

I really enjoyed watching Isabelle’s character. You might never suspect she’s on the spectrum, yet it still affects her deeply every single day. She’s trying her best to live in an alien world and simultaneously be true to herself, however that comes at a very high psychological price.

That in itself is very accurate in my opinion.

Review by kaylie ★★★

josh hartnett….u silly tall gorgeous man

Review by Maulbear🖍️ ★½

Isabelle is an autistic bisexual survivor of sexual assault who is unashamedly proud of her neurodiversity, has an emotional support rabbit called Bongo, and dresses up as Mozart for Halloween - if it weren't for the rest of the abundant ableism and Manic Pixie Dream Girl plot of this movie, I'd be head over heels for this film. Shame it ended up being the same old tropes.

Review by Silent J ★★★½

Misleading title.

I was hoping for a film where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart forms a friendship or even a rivalry with a giant talking whale.

This is still pretty good though.

Review by fay ★★★

so stupid but made my entire day 🐋🐋🐋 inside this tshirt lives a beautiful woman  Donald was super duper cute.

Review by zoeeyy ★★★

this is a really cute movie, if you can ignore the fact that some of the autism representation doesn't age too well!!

Review by Varghese

Took me a while to get used to the characters but once Radha Mithcell enters the frame, I started feeling more comfortable. Both the leads are remarkable. Also loved the soundtrack!

Review by shona ✨ ½

A badly written film that feels hours longer than its relatively short run time. It feels as though it goes around and around in circles, and the central relationship is mismatched, and barely develops; just because they’re both autistic doesn’t mean they’re good for each other, which the film misunderstands significantly.

It is nice to see a female autistic character, but she’s limited to being a manic pixie dream girl type, and doesn’t get much time to shine on her own. Of course, our protagonist Donald plays into the autistic archetype of a savant, maths genius, which is becoming very tiring to watch.

Donald and Isabelle’s relationship feels so lacking, with little chemistry, a complete clash of personality, and their…

Similar Films

Select your preferred backdrop

Select your preferred poster.

Mozart and the Whale (2005)

Stream & Watch Mozart and the Whale

Cast & Crew

Movie details, featured news.

Similar Movies

Movie Reviews

Follow Moviefone

Latest trailers.

• Rankings FA
• TV Premiere Calendar
• Coming in 2024
• Latest Reviews

Mozart and the Whale

• Credits 
• Image gallery  [12]

All images are copyrighted by their respective copyright holders and/or producers/distributors.

• Allen Evangelista

• Nate Mooney

• See all credits
• "[The material] has been handled with reasonable intelligence and authenticity (...) From the first, there is a refreshing absence of special pleading or under-the-microscope examination in Naess' approach."  Todd McCarthy : Variety
• "Strong performances anchor this low-key romantic drama about two people with Asperger syndrome." Sheri Linden : The Hollywood Reporter

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

User history