"A Brilliant Young Mind"

[SPOILERS ALERT]

Today, I saw the movie, A Brilliant Young Mind (released in the UK as X+Y), which is about a British teenage mathematics prodigy. Preferring to hide in the safety of his own private world, Nathan (Asa Butterfield) struggles to connect with people, often pushing away those who want to be closest to him, including his mother, Julie (Sally Hawkins).  Without the ability to understand love or affection, Nathan finds the comfort and security he needs in numbers and mathematics. Mentored by his unconventional and anarchic teacher, Mr. Humphreys (Rafe Spall), it becomes clear that Nathan's talents are enough to win him a place on the British team competing at the highly revered International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).  Being part of a team – and one which has a real chance of winning – seems like it could change Nathan's life forever.  But when the team goes to train in Taiwan, Nathan is faced with a multitude of unexpected challenges, not the least of which are the new and unfamiliar feelings he begins to experience for one of the Chinese competitors, the beautiful Zhang Mei (Jo Yang) – feelings that develop when the young mathematicians return to England for the IMO, held at Trinity College in Cambridge.

Here's the trailer:

Zhang Mei (Jo Yang) and Nathan (Asa Butterfield)

Julie (Sally Hawkins) and Nathan

The character of Nathan is based on 29-year old Daniel Lightwing who won a silver medal at the 2006 International Mathematical Olympiad. He was diagnosed with Asperger's Disorder (ASD) – now known as Autism Spectrum Disorder – which is characterized by difficulties in a person's ability to communicate and relate to others.  You can read more about Lightwing's story here.  

Daniel Lightwing

More than most films that address ASD, A Brilliant Young Mind shows the amount of patience, understanding, and commitment required from caring parents and friends who deal with someone who, however gifted, may appear "cold" and unfeeling.  The film also shows Nathan's unusual sensitivity to colors and their connection with specific personal memories.  Those that evoke his father's death stir up anxiety that interferes with his mental process during the competition exams.