"If, however, you feel that watching it is almost an act of charity in itself (apparently some of the proceeds will go toward supporting carers), admire this at least for being one of the few feature films that tries to depict more challenged autistic people who need support (also known by the now-contested label of low functioning)."
"The film opens with a disclaimer that acknowledges that the autism spectrum is wide and varied and that this film reflects the individual experiences of two characters and is not intended to represent every autistic story."
"Signifying his descent into despair, Ty is contemplating suicide and now fantasises that he can see a lifesize version of Nook (basically an actor Al Snow in a plushie costume), a 12A version of Ted from the Seth MacFarlane franchise with no swearing or penis jokes."
A feature film follows Elijah, a young autistic man with significant support needs, and his father Ty as they navigate family conflict and institutional care. After a violent meltdown during childhood, Elijah eventually ends up in a secure hospital facility while his father struggles with his career and contemplates suicide. Ty begins seeing visions of Nook, a large stuffed polar bear character who serves as his emotional guide. Following Nook's advice, Ty takes Elijah on an unscheduled Christmas holiday to South Carolina against his ex-wife Pam's wishes. The film attempts to depict more severely autistic individuals requiring substantial support, includes a disclaimer acknowledging autism spectrum diversity, and directs some proceeds toward supporting carers, though critics find the overall approach overly sentimental and religiously didactic.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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