Director: Morgan Matthews
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Jo Yang
I've got a penchant for films that get you in the feels at the moment, and X+Y didn't let me down!
Is there a formula for love? I don't know, but if there is I would sure like someone to explain it to me because I can't work it out myself. I'm not a gifted, brilliantly minded mathematical genius though, so maybe that's my problem? Although, the young, mathematical genius in this film can't quite work it out either, so maybe that's not it.
X+Y zooms in on a teenage mathematical genius, who sits on the spectrum, and can't quite grasp the concept of a normal relationship. The only thing that makes sense to him is maths. Something I myself cannot relate to at all. Slowly, slowly though with the help of his math tutor, his struggling mother and his new found friend, he begins to work out what it is that defines a good relationship, and what it is that other people need to feel loved and what it is that's important in life.
Sound like a film you've seen before? RAIN MAN or perhaps A BEAUTIFUL MIND or maybe even DAVID AND LISA? Once you've seen X+Y you may find it difficult not to compare it to those films, or even reference them when you're talking about it. I know I did, and even though those comparisons and references are not necessarily a bad thing, I think that this film stands well on it's own and proves it's own worth as a compelling, emotional and satisfying drama.
This is the debut fiction film for Morgan Matthews and I think that he's done a smashing job with it. This work of fiction was inspired by his own documentary BEAUTIFUL YOUNG MINDS", and whilst I haven't seen that documentary I am led to believe by others who have that the main character in X+Y is not unlike one of the more memorable subjects, math prodigy Daniel Lightwing (awesome name PS).
Asa Buterfield as Nathan in Taipei
Our main man, Nathan Ellis, is diagnosed with being on the autism spectrum at a young age, and finds comfort in math - something that he is good at, and the only thing that makes sense in his world. In the early scenes of the film Nathan is played by a talented young man by the name of Edward Baker-Close (stay tuned here peeps!), as a skittish little introvert, who connects only with his dad and not his mum. When his dad is dies in a car accident, he seems to shut down that part of himself and maintains a steady, but unemotional relationship with his ever patient and incredibly strong mother (Sally Hawkins).
As he gets older, his mother recognises that he has a talent for maths and helps him to reach his potential by getting him some tutoring from a teacher who was once a math prodigy himself before multiple sclerosis and his own self loathing got in the way of his ambitions. The now older Nathan (played now by Asa Butterfield) moves forward in leaps and bounds with the help of his tutor Martin (Rafe Spall) who is quick to recognise and eager to nurture his skills. They are both working towards the ultimate goal - the IMO. International Mathematics Olympiad. Sounds exciting right? You bet your ass it's exciting. As long as you're a math genius, who can solve equations more complex than 1+1=2. Like binary numbers and finding x and cos sign and other things that made as much sense to me 20 years ago when I was learning them as they do now. None. I hear a math problem and it sounds to me like this;
Q: If Johnny has 4 pencils and Sarah has 7 apples, how many pancakes will fit on the roof?
A: Purple, because aliens don't wear hats.
Don't worry though, there isn't too much focus on the actual maths, and you don't have to answer any complex equations at the end of the film, it's more about the relationships formed throughout.
Nathan struggles with relationships, he struggles with change, he struggles with things that most of us take for granted and Asa Butterfield did a magnificent job with this character arc. He delves nicely into all aspects of this character and Matthews' draws out a solid performance from this young man. I think that we can expect more wonderful things from both these two in the future. Matthews' not brings out the best from Butterfield, but he also brings out strong performances from Spall, Hawkins, Marsan and the very lovely Jo Yang.
Butterfield and Yang at maths camp (aka my worst nightmare)
Yang plays Zhang Mei, Nathan's very sweet and very chaste love interest. His first real friend, she is truly accepting of Nathan and all his quirks, and likes him for all that he is. There was a beautiful line where Nathan's mother tries to explain love to him, she uses a strange semi-mathematical analogy to explain it to him and it's quite a lovely moment between these two.
I shan't give away any more information, there were a few heavy-handed moments from Matthews, but no film ruining moments. I really enjoyed this film and connected with the characters on an emotional level. I think it's absolutely worth the 20-something dollars if you're looking for something to see this weekend.
4 out of 5
xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell
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