Last month, the Florida Film Festival's Narrative Feature category caught my attention with a standout film, "Hellbent on Boogie". Directed by Vito Trupiano, the touching portrayal of an autistic teenager, Alyx Ruibal, who is homeschooled and kept away from her peers was not only authentic, but also impactful. Ruibal's excellent and natural acting didn't betray her own existence on the autism spectrum or the fact that it was her first film. The film paves the path for realistic representations of neurodivergence, unlike its predecessors with a patchy history, despite their good intentions.
A similar effort is made in "Ezra", directed by Tony Goldwyn, and scripted by Tony Spiridakis. Despite the coexistence of a cliched plot and a fresh one which can lead to occasional frustration, "Ezra" is a film to watch. It delves into the life of Max (Bobby Cannavale), a former comedy scriptwriter turned stand-up comedian, who coparents his autistic son Ezra (William Fitzgerald) with ex-wife Jenna (Rose Byrne). Their conflict on dealing with Ezra's education and socialization adds an extra layer to the film.
The intriguing film combines family drama with Max's ambitious profession, including an important audition with Jimmy Kimmel that could be a turning point for him. Although the auditions plot may seem forced upon the family drama, it also serves as an indication of Max's desperate situation. The authenticity lies in the depictive relationships within the family- strained, unsure and burdened with worry, with no one being the villain.
More depth is added to the film with the brilliant acting by Cannavale, Byrne, and De Niro along with an equally captivating performance by Fitzgerald. His portrayal of Ezra as a three-dimensional character who communicates with movie quotes and absorbs his parents' anxieties is commendable. Well-intentioned but often failing due to his temper, Cannavale's portrayal of Max's love for his son, Ezra, can be heart-wrenching.
Tony Spiridakis’ script, rooted in personal experiences of parenting an autistic child, infuses an element of realism in his characters’ struggles, their impulsiveness and their irrational actions driven by worry. The impeccable casting of neurodivergent actors and the involvement of the neurodivergent community in the production process add to the authenticity of the film. Sensitive portrayal of parental worry and the emotional toll of trying to 'fix' a child makes "Ezra" worth a watch despite the off-pitch subplot of Max and his stand up comedy career.
