Comic writer tackles daughter's autism with humour

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By beth O'Leary

Reuters

Wednesday, July 14, 2010; 7:52 AM

MADRID (Reuters Life!) - Award-winning Spanish illustrator Gallardo has

overcome the limitations imposed by his daughter's autism by doing what he does

best -- drawing.

Gallardo's sketches over 12 years led to a beautifully etched and very funny

comic book, " and I " ( y Yo), explaining everyday life with his

daughter and its challenges.

That book has now become a documentary film of the same name, which opens in

Spain this week.

" You could say I had a debt to pay (to my past) or something like that. The

drawings came from a diary I started when was born ... but really it took

me 13 years to find the right voice to tell a difficult story, " he told Reuters.

Directed by Felix Fernandez de Castro and first shown at the Malaga film

festival, the film tracks the relationship between , and his ex-wife

May, and how they have learned to cope with 's disability.

The drawings are blended seamlessly into the film providing it with ironic winks

and with no hint of sentimentality. , a 14-year old with an infectious grin

and a love of food, is a charming and surprising protagonist.

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Before the book, Gallardo was more famous in Spain as creator of a punk comic

book madhouse escapee called Makoki.

But the project has helped lay to rest some of his darker feelings -- anger,

guilt and frustration -- by airing them.

" didn't just change my life and my scale of values, but the way I draw, "

he says, " It's simpler now. "

The documentary shows his sketchbook when was born, with dimpled baby

sketches abruptly becoming blank pages when her developmental progress started

to show problems.

But after she was diagnosed, his sketches became a key tool in communicating

with her and there are many scenes in the film in which he draws comic versions

of people she has met in notebooks which she keeps.

The pictures now form a map of her world, he says.

The project has been a way of transforming years of pitying stares and the

indignation it provoked in him into laughter.

" It's like saying, look at this and compare. This is a normal and everyday life

and it is possible, " he said.

(Reporting by beth O'Leary, Editing by Fiona Ortiz and Casciato)