Trainman (1998)

Plagued by his many fixations and obsessions, including weather and sounds, 32-year-old Kees Momma tries to navigate daily life. Unexpectedly high temperatures for the time of year, doors that slam too hard, a runny nose that is loudly blown; these are annoyances that make the life of autistic Kees unbearable. It is thanks to his mother, who unconditionally supports him, that Kees is able to withstand the threatening outside world. Subjected to a strict daily routine, during the autumn season he travels daily as a passenger of his own model train. He also finds joy in pursuing his other hobbies: calligraphy, walking, drawing, and learning languages. Kees is intelligent and extraordinarily gifted and knows exactly how to articulate what it means to be autistic. His greatest hobby is gliding. He has now obtained all licenses, including the diamonds, which he obtained in the picturesque Italian Aosta. High in the air, floating between the clouds, he looks down on the world below in complete silence and feels momentarily happy. Kees has never seen Trainman, out of fear of being confronted with his own shortcomings. He also avoids looking in the mirror, because in his own eyes he sees the gaze of an autistic person.