The Stimming Pool
SADIE PITCHER on a film created by a neurodivergent collective
The camera moves, gets distracted, and moves again, becoming its own character in The Stimming Pool. The eye of the camera captures recognisable Hastings sites, including the Electric Palace Cinema, The St Leonards Public House and The Observer Building.
Created by five neurodiverse artists, The Stimming Pool is a film about being. As John Knowles, a filmmaker and father of Robin Elliott-Knowles (one of the five directors) explains. “The film presents a collective of thoughts around the idea of what it is like to be autistic. The idea behind the film was not to try and explain autism at all, but to allow the filmmakers and the directors to essentially be, and to create their own vision.”
The film is to be shown as part of the London Film Festival at the ICA Gallery and then at the BFI Southbank and has been shown in Copenhagen, Iceland, Maine, Sidney, Cork and Florence, with more destinations in the pipeline.
The film is directed by the Neurocultures Collective: Sam Chown-Ahern, Georgia Bradburn, Benjamin Brown, Robin Elliott-Knowles and Lucy Walker. It reflects each director’s experience of being autistic through their individual creative approaches.
“It’s really important we creep out of the ‘Oh well we have a film about autistic people’ thing. This is a film by autistic people and that makes a huge difference. All the creativity, in it has come out of their creativity” John Knowles continues.
Alongside the film is a travelling exhibition titled Stim Cinema, which explores the experience of stimming through excerpts from the film. Stimming, or self-stimulatory behaviour, is something that autistic people do to channel and manage excess energy and to self-soothe. “There are a couple of sequences in the film where somebody is having a really difficult time and stimming extraordinarily, but as the camera isn’t voyeuristic or prying it feels almost magical,” John explains.
While Hastings appears on screen, the town’s influence stretches further than the visuals. Produced by Chloe White, a Hastings local, and directed by two former Project Art Works members, Robin and Lucy, the film is a testament to the creativity and the supportive nature of the Hastings’ community. Project Art Works is a Hastings-based organisation supporting people with complex support needs, combining art and care.
The Stimming Pool will be coming to Hastings in March as part of an autistic season at the Electric Palace Cinema.
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