COVER SHEET Rain Man (1988) Movie Guide/Summary/Vocabulary/Questions This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Teachers Paying Teachers Dr. Richard A. Hale Jr. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Social-Science-Survival-Store Name_________________________Date____________ Class________________ Rain Man (1988) "Rain Man" is a 1988 American drama film directed by Barry Levinson, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. The film tells the story of a self-centered car dealer named Charlie Babbitt who discovers that his estranged father has left his entire estate to an institutionalized savant brother, Raymond Babbitt, whom Charlie didn't know existed. Raymond has exceptional abilities in mathematics and memory, but struggles with social interactions and following routines. Charlie takes Raymond out of the institution and they embark on a road trip across the country, during which they bond and Charlie learns to understand and appreciate his brother. Psychological Vocabulary Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Savant syndrome: A rare condition in which a person with a developmental disorder, such as autism, has exceptional abilities in a specific area, such as memory or math. Stereotypic behavior: Repetitive or ritualistic behavior that is often seen in people with autism. Echolalia: The repetition of words or phrases spoken by others, often seen in people with autism. Executive functioning: The cognitive processes involved in planning, organizing, initiating, and completing tasks. Theory of mind: The ability to understand that other people have thoughts, feelings, and intentions that may differ from one's own. Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Social reciprocity: The give-and-take in social interactions, involving communication and mutual understanding. Sensory processing: The ability to interpret and respond to sensory stimuli, including touch, sound, and sight. Behavioral therapy: A form of therapy that focuses on changing specific behaviors, often used in the treatment of autism. Movie Questions: 1. At the beginning of the movie, what kind of personality traits do we see in Charlie Babbitt? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 2. How does Charlie react to the news of his father's death and the revelation of his brother Raymond's existence? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 3. Describe the behavior of Raymond when he meets Charlie for the first time? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 4. What is the significance of the name “rainman” in Raymond's life? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 5. What is an example of both a positive and negative symptom of Raymond’s autism? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 6. How does Charlie's relationship with Raymond evolve throughout the movie? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Discussion Questions: 7. How does the movie portray autism, and what impact did it have on public perceptions of the condition? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 8. What does the movie suggest about the relationship between nature and nurture in shaping human behavior? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 9. How does Charlie's journey throughout the movie reflect the concept of personal growth and self-discovery? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 10. Research the “real rainman” how was his life different then portrayed in the movie? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ANSWER KEY: 1. We see Charlie as a self-centered, materialistic, and impatient person who only cares about his own needs and desires. He is obsessed with money and success, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals, even if it means cheating or lying. 2. Charlie is initially angry and resentful when he learns that his father has left most of his wealth to Raymond, whom he never knew existed. He sees Raymond as a burden and a hindrance to his plans and tries to take advantage of him for his own gain. 3. Raymond's behavior is rigid, repetitive, and focused on routine. He struggles with social interaction and communication, and he has difficulty understanding social cues and emotions. He has exceptional memory skills and displays an intense interest in specific topics, such as airline schedules and baseball statistics. 4. The "Rain Man" is a nickname that Raymond's father gave him as a child, based on his ability to recall the exact time and weather conditions of an accident they witnessed together. The term becomes a source of comfort and security for Raymond, and he uses it as a way to cope with stressful situations. 5. Positive: Affect emotion/echolalia Negative: Cannot divert from routine without anxiety/doesn’t understand basic concepts. 6. At first, Charlie sees Raymond as a tool to get what he wants, but as he spends more time with him, he begins to understand his brother's condition and appreciate his unique abilities. He learns to care for Raymond and develops a sense of responsibility towards him, eventually realizing that Raymond is more than just a source of money but also a brother he never knew he had. 7. Rain Man was one of the first mainstream movies to feature a character with autism, and it helped to raise awareness and understanding of the condition. However, some critics have argued that the portrayal of autism in the movie is stereotypical and overly simplistic, focusing too much on Raymond's savant abilities and not enough on the challenges and struggles faced by individuals with autism. 8. The movie suggests that both nature and nurture play a role in shaping human behavior. Raymond's autism is presented as a primarily biological condition that is not caused by any environmental factors or upbringing. However, the movie also shows how Raymond's experiences and interactions with others, particularly his father, have shaped his personality and behavior. 9. Charlie's journey throughout the movie is a classic example of personal growth and selfdiscovery. He starts off as a selfish and materialistic person who cares only about his own needs and desires, but as he spends more time with Raymond, he learns to appreciate the value of human connection and empathy. He also confronts some painful truths about his past 10. Answers will vary.
