Ezra

In a culture that cherishes perfection, Tony Goldwyn’s Ezra, stands out as a moving testimonial to the power of love, acceptance, and the challenges of parenting. 

From a screenplay by Tony Spiridakis, the film is a heartrending look at the lengths parents will go to protect their child and digs deeply into family dynamics and the intricacy of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The film stars Bobby Cannavale as Max, who is a New York comedian, and Rose Byrne as his estranged ex-wife Jenna, trying to co-parent their autistic son Ezra, played by a wonderfully charming William A. Fitzgerald. 

After his impulsive decision to take Jenna and her lawyer boyfriend’s (Goldwyn) taunts literally, puts him in danger to himself, Ezra is suddenly prescribed medication by his doctor.

Following this, Max resolves to take matters concerning his child into his own hands and gradually collects the support of his loved ones. Cannavale turns over a superb performance as the film’s protagonist, a dad whose shortcomings are brought to light; he accomplishes the feat of finding forgiveness without the film resorting to excessive drama. Robert De Niro, who plays Max’s dad Stan, adds a lot of energy to the screen in a fantastic supporting role and is a pleasant departure from his late-career norm.

Taking aim at films like Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Ezra questions whether parents should raise their children to be totally conformist or fully accept their uniqueness. They are constantly seeking the ‘right’ way to aid Ezra, and their journey of understanding and acceptance is a significant topic. For what purposes is “normalcy” defined? This is a major issue that the film raises. What is the greatest way to care for someone who is on the autistic spectrum? Instead of offering straightforward answers, Ezra highlights the paradox of parental love and sacrifice.

If viewers can look past the film’s overly emotional narrative, they may find insights in Ezra‘s portrayal of autism and a family’s desperate attempts to make a happy life for an autistic child.

Ezra releases in cinemas on Friday, 31 May 2024.

-Dirk Lombard Fourie