“In flip-flops at the foot of the Himalayas” by John Wax: a tender comedy about a mother’s fight against autism

The one who feels “in flip-flops at the foot of the Himalayas” in John Wax’s film, in theaters this Wednesday, is Pauline. Played by a funny and tender Audrey Lamy, this mother is raising her son Andréa, 6 and a half years old, who has been diagnosed with “autism spectrum disorder”. However, Pauline has neither an apartment nor a job. In addition, this carefree and party-loving blonde has just separated from Fabrice, the child’s father. And at school, they keep telling her that, for Andréa to enter CP class, she needs “stability” at all costs.

In real life, the one who was at the bottom of the mountain is Marie-Odile Weiss. Mother of a boy diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 and a half, this 43-year-old author and actress recounted her experience in a single scene already entitled “In flip-flops at the foot of the Himalayas”. The pretty brunette talks about her “giddiness” at the announcement of the diagnosis and her daily life made up of administrative pitfalls, acronyms and boxes… into which her child does not fit. A lively and lively show, lively but never tearful.

Between lightness and gravity

“I accepted because I knew that John wanted to treat the subject in the form of a comedy, while adding depth to it,” explains the author. As with the show, I wanted to raise awareness about the issue of autism. Cinema is a wonderful weapon for changing people’s outlook. But I wanted to do it with humor. That’s how I go through life: I see the funny in it even when the situations aren’t necessarily funny. »

To co-write the screenplay for the film, Marie-Odile Weiss was inspired by her daily life, but also by interviews she had conducted with experts and other parents of autistic children for a podcast. A docu-fiction in four episodes, also entitled “In flip-flops at the foot of the Himalayas”, put online in 2020.

Through the feature film, the viewer understands the obstacle course of these parents: the shortage of support for children with disabilities, the inability of certain teachers to accept and integrate these students whom they find “turbulent” …

We also have fun with this teacher who asks Pauline if Andréa is a genius at the piano or if he speaks several languages. ” After Rain Manthe film with Dustin Hoffman, everyone thought that autistic people counted matches very quickly,” emphasizes Marie-Odile Weiss.

By oscillating between lightness and seriousness, John Wax’s comedy touches the heart. Marie-Odile showed it to her son, now 13 years old. “He really liked it. When he saw the sequences where Andréa said It’s not mei after breaking his bed or blocking the toilet, he looked at me and started That reminds me of someone! » smiles the mother. Who, like Pauline, assures that she has “made a lot of progress” in the ascent of her Himalayas at the same time as her “little sun” has grown.