X + Y
A Brilliant Young Mind
Director Morgan Matthews
Cert 12A, 111 mins
Nathan is an autistic and mathematically gifted teenager, who is selected to represent the UK in an international maths competition. The film flashes back to his childhood and we see the psychologist talking to him under a table; we see also his eager but concerned parents.
Nathan’s growing years, in what becomes a one-parent family, present huge challenges both to him and to his loving, long-suffering and lonely mother (played by the always excellent Sally Hawkins). The story is told through her eyes as well as Nathan’s and both of them in different ways are painfully aware of their ineptitude. Also in the mix is Martin (played by Rafe Spall), the disillusioned, cynical and chronically-sick teacher who helps and encourages Nathan.
What is love?
It is a film about flawed people coming to terms with their own limitations and those of others. It is also about growing up. The big question it poses is ‘what is love?’. Nathan loves (to the point of obsession) order and pattern; most of all he loves maths. But he finds that there are some things in life which cannot be reduced to an equation. The film contains some bad language; it also contains some excellent dialogue, which is candid and poignant. The very fine acting by all the central characters, and some minor ones, makes the journey each one travels credible and engaging.
There are some clichés in the plot, but also some surprises. This is no mere ‘winning-through’ story: it is better than that, portraying tenderness and hope in a world where all too often people get things wrong and disappoint each other. It makes a helpful and positive contribution to a better understanding of those on the ‘autistic spectrum’. In addition, this is an exceedingly watchable film, with a three tissue rating, especially for mothers.
