Rich Wright PASSER BY: "Disgraceful behaviour!"KYLE'S MOTHER: "What, you staring at a disabled child having a fit? I agree!"Kyle is a lost cause. Born with a very severe case of autism, he can barely communicate... apart from repeating parrot-like what he hears. He often rehashes these phrases in the most inappropriate situations, much to the amusement of everyone except his mum and dad. He throws random temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He still wears nappies at the age of 6. He has no comprehension of the emotional needs of others. His only outlet in life is his obsession with trains.His parents are at their wits end. They've sent him to a special needs day school, but progress is frustratingly slow. The father wants to pack him off to a specialist unit 5 days and nights a week, but mother is desperate for him to have a chance in the real world. Mum is sick of having no social life, while dad is seriously considering an affair with a family friend. Things look bleak. Then, they decide to get a dog... And everything changes.After Thomas is a wonderful film, the best I've seen this year so far. Every detail, from the little picture cards Kyle has to examine to understand what he has to do, to his tendency to walk up and down in a straight line for hours, rings true. The little actor they have to play this part is perfect. This is no sugar-coated Hollywoodised view of a handicap... living with this child is a chore, and would test the patience of a saint.Then along comes Thomas, named after Kyle's favourite Tank Engine. He doesn't really bond with the canine straightaway... but gradually, an eternal friendship is forged. Thomas helps him open up, and what started out as a hopeless situation becomes a journey of discovery for him and his parents, as they see more and more of their son every day. The scene where he calls them Mum and Dad for the first time is such a tearjerker, you'll want to reach for the toilet paper product that Thomas's breed also advertises.Few films earn the title Life Affirming. This one surely does. 8/10

kate2949 One of those wonderful lucky accidents - I Tivo'd this program based purely on the fact that Keeley Hawes was in it and she's one of my favorite actresses so whatever it was it would be good because of her. Little did I expect to be blown away by the performances of everyone in the cast, most especially Kyle and Thomas himself! Ben Miles was a pleasant surprise. Having only ever seen him in Coupling, here he showed he's capable of so much more. This is one of the sweetest and most touching dramas I've seen in a long time and to find out it was a true story just made it all the more incredible. By the end I was in tears. You don't need to have a child with autism to grasp the intensity and heartfelt emotion of the parents and indeed the grandparents as they tried to deal with the issues surrounding a child with special needs.

benbrae76 I won't elaborate on the plot of "After Thomas" as it's been covered by other reviewers, all of whom (to date) I must heartily agree with. As a drama it was faultless, and must have brought hope to many parents in a similar situation. The acting by all (including the dog) was superb, and Keeley Hawes in particular has proved once again what a magnificently talented actress she is, and that there is no role she cannot tackle. As she did last year in "Under the Greenwood Tree" she teams up again, equally successfully, with Ben Miles, and their performances are just as unmissable. A special tribute has to be paid to Andrew Byrne for his portrayal as the autistic child Kyle. A truly remarkable job for such a young actor.If this movie does not receive an award of some sort, then there is no justice.

Ryan Kyle Graham is scared. Not of monsters under the bed like any average six year old but of everything. Normal, everyday activities prove terrifying to him.And he can't communicate his fears, or share them with friends, because he can't use language and he has no friends.Kyle is autistic, a condition it took his parents two desperate years to get diagnosed. So his day consists of endless traumas and tantrums… and unimaginable stress for his mum and dad Nicola and Rob.Nicola's fierce determination to break into Kyle's world at any cost has placed an intolerable strain on her marriage. And, her only respite is the unwavering support of her mother Pat and father Jim, who dote on Kyle.Into this setting of seemingly insurmountable conflict comes Thomas, a golden retriever puppy, named after Kyle's favourite character, Thomas The Tank Engine.By the time Thomas is a fully grown dog, Nicola and Rob are hopeful of a breakthrough where all other attempts have failed.The unexpected and devastating blow of Pat's death only strengthens their resolve.But when Thomas becomes ill, the family fear that the progress Kyle has made is about to unravel… A truly touching story and one that will stick in your mind for a long time indeed.