The Foolish Wise Ones

Idiot Savants

Produced by BBC Television

A century ago a French psychologist discovered that some mentally handicapped people possessed exceptional talents and called them idiot savants. In this film, three such people are portrayed, giving a fascinating glimpse into the hidden potential of the human mind.

Twenty-three-year-old Noel Patterson is autistic and is in an institution since he requires almost constant care. From the age of five, however, he has shown amazing musical ability. He can reproduce flawlessly on the piano almost any music he hears, from Bach to Elton John.

David Kidd is 28 with an I.Q. of 68 and can barely perform simple arithmetic. Yet he has a talent that is quite unique. One has only to mention a random date to him - past, present, or future - and he can instantly pinpoint on which day of the week it occurred. An expert in the recondite mathematics of calculating the calendar, Dr. Bernard Yallop is baffled by David's talent.

Stephen Wiltshire is 11 in this film. (He is followed up in The Boy Who Draws Buildings, see below). Although he has the mental age of a six-year-old, he possesses the skills of a mature artist. He draws remarkable pen and ink likenesses of famous London landmarks from memory.

Including the commentary of two well-known psychologists, this film provides an astonishing look at the savant syndrome.

30 min. Video or DVD. Sale $195. Video rental $55.

American Association on Mental Retardation, 1996