Directed by Max Mayer
Elementary school teacher and would-be writer Beth (Rose Byrne) is an only child and she lets us know at the beginning of the film that all ‘only children’ are emotional retards who are spoilt and ill-equipped to cope. Interestingly this finds parallels with some of the traits of Asperger’s Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism that is hallmarked by an inability to read what other people are thinking and feeling. Beth leaves behind a trail of disappointing relationships when she moves into a New York apartment and meets her neighbour Adam (Hugh Dancy), who has Asperger’s.
Beth and Adam are polar opposites. Beth is spontaneous and full of life and Adam is socially isolated and struggling to cope after his father’s death. The two find themselves attracted to each other before Beth knows anything about Adam’s circumstances and before Adam knows anything about romance. Most romances are filled with miscommunication, and this is intensified as Beth forces Adam to interact with the world, and Adam forces Beth to confront her family and herself. As their relationship intensifies, it seems to be equally liberating for both of them.
There are interesting complexities to this bittersweet relationship and plenty of laughs as all the rules of romance go out the window. Writer/director Max Mayer sees Adam’s relationship with Beth is an extreme version of a very common dilemma we all face in life when we wish to make an intimate connection with someone else who obviously has their own view of the world. ‘We are all trapped in our heads – and can only guess about another person’s experience of the world, even those we love.’ For the ‘neurotypical’ audience, there are many elements to relate to, and Byrne and Dancy bring refreshing authenticity to the rom/com genre.
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