Hulu's Greta Thunberg documentary I Am Greta puts her autism at the forefront without making it "inspiration porn"

Bustle

"The fact that Thunberg, 17, is autistic — she identifies as being diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, though there’s controversy around the term's clinical use — isn’t necessarily new knowledge; she’s discussed it before on social media, calling the diagnosis her 'superpower,'" says Lily Herman of the documentary from director Nathan Grossman. "However, as the film points out, the narrative around her Asperger's has often been publicly met with erasure, a lack of dimension, and ableism ranging from unintentionally patronizing to downright heinous. (One clip featured in the documentary shows a Fox News commentator referring to her as a 'mentally ill Swedish child.') Instead, I Am Greta takes a different approach, deciding not to portray Thunberg’s autism as inspiration porn for neurotypical audiences or an 'obstacle' that she needs to ultimately overcome. What’s so radical is that the documentary gives Thunberg’s experiences as an autistic person the breathing room to just be. We’re able to authentically see how this core part of Thunberg's identity has shaped her life — without any larger narrative attached to it." ALSO: I Am Greta's fly-on-the-wall approach is a perfect match for his subject.