Is Frank in 'Frank' autistic?
I just saw the movie Frank and really liked it. The mask (which I understand could be a hyperbole of this situation) being the least of a reason why I am asking this, the most being his communication and incoherent mumbling style as well as avoiding eye contact once the mask was off, is Frank supposed to be a very awkward and introverted autistic man?
Best Answer
Autistic, no. Deeply introverted and borderline mentally ill, absolutely.
This interview in the Guardian with the real Jon Ronson (who wrote the film) gives us a pretty solid evaluation of "Frank's" mental state:
"The moment the head is placed the change occurs. Not merely a change in attitude or outlook but a journey from one person to the other. I completely believe that Chris was born as two people." Middles likens Chris to transgender people, trapped in the wrong body.
and there's some extra info in this BBC interview that suggests that the "head thing" was more than just an act
So to what extent was Frank Sidebottom just an act, a part Chris was playing? Or did it become an alter ego, a completely different persona? "You've got to be careful not to psychoanalyse him too much because it might be wrong," Jon Ronson cautions.
"But my feeling is that if Chris was incredibly chaotic and Frank was incredibly innocent, there's got to be a reason for that, right? "And to encase yourself in this fake head… there has to be a reason. It was safer. Frank was a calmer, safer place to be than Chris."
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