# After Thomas

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{{Short description|2006 British television film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image          = After Thomas.jpg
| image_upright  = 1.0
| image_alt      =
| caption        = 
| genre          = 
| creator        = 
| based_on       = 
| writer         = [Lindsey Hill](/source/Lindsey_Hill)
| screenplay     = 
| story          = 
| director       = [Simon Shore](/source/Simon_Shore)
| starring       = [Keeley Hawes](/source/Keeley_Hawes)<br>[Ben Miles](/source/Ben_Miles)<br>Andrew Byrne<br>[Sheila Hancock](/source/Sheila_Hancock)<br>[Duncan Preston](/source/Duncan_Preston)
| narrator       = 
| music          = 
| country        = United Kingdom
| language       = English
| num_episodes   = 
| producer       = [Beryl Vertue](/source/Beryl_Vertue)<br>Elaine Cameron
| editor         = 
| cinematography = 
| runtime        = 93 minutes
| company        =
| budget         = 
| network        = [ITV](/source/ITV_(TV_network))
| released       = {{Start date|2006|12|26|df=yes}} 
}}
'''''After Thomas''''' is a television [drama film](/source/drama_film) first broadcast in the United Kingdom on 26 December 2006 on [ITV](/source/ITV_(TV_network)). It was produced by [Beryl Vertue](/source/Beryl_Vertue) and Elaine Cameron, directed by [Simon Shore](/source/Simon_Shore), and written by [Lindsey Hill](/source/Lindsey_Hill). It follows a severely [autistic](/source/autism) child Kyle Graham and the progress he makes when his parents adopt Thomas, a [golden retriever](/source/golden_retriever). It is based on the true story of Scottish child Dale Gardner and his dog Henry.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lockyer|first1=Daphne|title=A boy's best friend|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/3346351/A-boys-best-friend.html|accessdate=28 September 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=22 December 2006}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Kyle Graham is a severely [autistic](/source/autism) child with limited communication skills, has intense meltdowns and is not toilet-trained. His condition tests the patience of his parents Nicola and Rob.

Nicola believes that the symptoms of Kyle's autism can be [made less severe over time](/source/Autism) by attempting to integrate him with the world around him. Rob, however, believes that the best solution is to send Kyle to a specialist boarding school run by the charismatic and caring headteacher John Havers. Rob, who has not had sex with his wife for years, becomes more torn when family friend Rachel offers him casual sex. Nicola's only respite is the unwavering support of her mother Pat and father Jim, who dote on Kyle and provide practical support when needed.

Open–minded on [autism therapies](/source/autism_therapies), Nicola reads about a child [whose condition improved](/source/Animal-assisted_therapy) with the help of a [therapy dog](/source/therapy_dog); Rob remains skeptical, believing that Kyle will either be terrified of the dog or oblivious to its existence. Kyle names his [golden retriever](/source/golden_retriever) puppy Thomas after [Thomas the Tank Engine](/source/Thomas_the_Tank_Engine). Slowly, through Thomas, he learns about emotions and interpersonal relationships. Rob discovers that he can quell his son's tantrums by speaking in a different voice that Kyle believes is that of Thomas. Rob and Nicola's marriage improves and she becomes pregnant with her second child. Thomas falls ill and the couple fear that if the dog should die, their son will regress. However, he makes a full recovery. In the final scene of the film, Kyle acknowledges his parents for the first time and says that he loves them.

Before the credits, an [epilogue](/source/epilogue) shows what happened to the real-life counterparts portrayed as characters in the film. The real-life Kyle now plays in a pop punk band called Firing at Statues.

== Cast ==
* [Keeley Hawes](/source/Keeley_Hawes) as Nicola Graham
* [Ben Miles](/source/Ben_Miles) as Rob Graham
* Andrew Byrne as Kyle Graham
* [Sheila Hancock](/source/Sheila_Hancock) as Grandma Pat
* [Duncan Preston](/source/Duncan_Preston) as Grandpa Jim
* [Asa Butterfield](/source/Asa_Butterfield) as Andrew<ref>{{cite news|last1=Idelson|first1=Karen|title=Youth Impact Report 2011: Up Next|url=https://variety.com/2011/voices/opinion/asa-butterfield-hugo-hinges-on-young-brit-1118044527/|accessdate=28 September 2017|work=Variety|date=20 October 2011}}</ref>
* [Clive Mantle](/source/Clive_Mantle) as John Havers
* [Lorraine Pilkington](/source/Lorraine_Pilkington) as Rachel
* [Noma Dumezweni](/source/Noma_Dumezweni) as Paula Murray
* Gill Hutley as a Class Teacher

==Reception==
''Moviemail'' called ''After Thomas'' "gritty, warm and funny, but above all else is a realistic insight into every parent's worst nightmare."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moviemail.com/film/54368/After-Thomas/|title=After Thomas|publisher=Moviemail|accessdate=30 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033122/http://www.moviemail.com/film/54368/After-Thomas/|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Dr Joyce Almeida wrote in a review on the website of the [Royal College of Psychiatrists](/source/Royal_College_of_Psychiatrists) that the film "offers an excellent platform for anyone wanting to learn about the subject of autism and the spectrum of disorders associated with it" and noted its potential as a teaching tool.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Almeida|first1=Dr Joyce|title=After Thomas|publisher=Royal College of Physicians|url=https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/discoverpsychiatry/blogs/mindsonfilm/afterthomas.aspx|access-date=2 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902183908/https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/discoverpsychiatry/blogs/mindsonfilm/afterthomas.aspx|archive-date=2 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{portal|Film}}
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title}}
*{{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{Autism resources}}

Category:2006 television films
Category:2006 films
Category:Animal-assisted therapy
Category:British drama television films
Category:Films about autism
Category:Films directed by Simon Shore
Category:Films set in 1993
Category:ITV television dramas

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [After Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Thomas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Thomas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.