In a recent interview for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ digital magazine, writer Tony Spiridakis (If Lucy Fell) reflected on the saying – “If you’ve met one autistic child, you’ve met one autistic child.”  He himself is a parent with two neurodiverse sons but given all kids are different, he felt pressure in depicting such a relationship on screen and having it connect with audiences.  Spiridakis took on feedback from a range of folk, including long-time friend and director Tony Goldwin (Conviction), and Ezra is the finished product.  It premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last September and is now receiving a small release in cinemas across the globe.

The narrative is centred on the relationship between Max (Cannavale), a struggling comedian in search of a big break, and Ezzie (Fitzgerland), his autistic 11-year-old son having a tough time at school.  Max has a clear view in what’s best for his child but that doesn’t always align with those of his ex-wife (Byrne), the school principal, and doctors looking to prescribe drugs to moderate Ezzie’s behaviour.  Adding further complications are Max’s irregular work commitments which sometimes take precedence over Ezzie’s best interests.

Blending both comedy and drama, Ezra is a warm-hearted film which deftly illustrates the challenges of parental responsibility.  No character is perfect.  They have good intentions (there are no villains here) but they often make judgmental errors (as we all do) which create problems and anxiety.  Without giving too much away, Max and Ezzie go on a road trip across the country  It’s a metaphorically bumpy ride, but it deepens the father-son relationship and provides lifelong memories.

Ezra is a well-honed production.  The performances are wonderful with Bobby Cannavale (Blue Jasmine), Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids), and Robert DeNiro (Taxi Driver) all getting a chance to open their hearts and offer sage advice.  It was important to Goldwin and Spiridakis that a neurodiverse actor play the title role and they’ve hit the jackpot in finding 15-year-old William Fitzgerald who defies a lack of experience (it’s his acting debut) and adeptly captures his character’s pent-up emotions.

With cameos from the likes of Rainn Wilson (The Office) and Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost), Ezra provides a timely reminder that when it comes to being a supportive parent, no one is perfect.  Life is a continual journey of learning and discovery.