Movie Review: Adam (2009, Directed by Max Mayer)

British actor Hugh Dancy accomplishes something bold and brave in the new indie film Adam. Dancy plays a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism-spectrum disorder still relatively new in its diagnoses and arguably misunderstood by a large segment of the general public. The fact that Dancy plays a man with autism is not in and of itself spectacular. The real accomplishment is the fact that Dancy plays the man with such empathetic subtlety. While watching this film, I thought a lot about how far movies have come since Rain Man in their attempt to depict people with autism with both dignity and accuracy.

Adam is a 30ish New Yorker who has been recently devastated by his father’s death. He now lives alone in the apartment once inhabited by him and his father. Adam works for a toy manufacturing company as an electronic engineer. He is talented in his work, but sometimes is criticized by his supervisor for not working quickly enough and focusing too much on the details, a trait common for people on the “spectrum.” Into his life marches Beth Buchwald (Rose Byrne) a young, cosmopolitan school teacher. When Beth moves into Adam’s apartment building they develop a complex and ambiguous relationship.

Adam is fascinating in the way it explores the implications of Asperger’s debilitating effects in human relationships. As Beth comes to terms with Adam’s condition, she finds ways of effectively communicating with him and helping him to relate better to others. Of course, no matter how hard caring people try to help those on the spectrum, problems will inevitably arise. Beth is not perfect in how she relates to Adam. This character’s lack of perfection was actually one of the film’s more refreshingly authentic elements.

Dancy’s nuanced performance is so compelling and Byrne is so sweet in her role as Beth that I am tempted to stop the discussion of the film here and not even tell you about the rest of the film. It pains me to say that the filmmakers found it necessary to include a contrived subplot about Beth’s parents. Her father, a Wall Street broker, has been indicted for financial crimes and misdemeanors. The film follows his trial and its aftermath. Both of Beth’s parents question her relationship with Adam. We get to watch them fit into the stereotypical roles of intolerant parents who don’t understand the way things are in the modern world. I have been thinking about the part of the film dealing with Beth’s parents ever since I first saw it. I still don’t understand why writer-director Max Mayer found it necessary to cram in this distraction. Adam and Beth’s relationship is so fascinating. Why can’t we just see more of it?

The annoying parent subplot diminishes this film’s status from “masterpiece” to “good.” It’s the kind of film I can see buying on DVD and fast-forwarding through the unnecessary scenes. Then, I would have a five-star movie on my hands.

Despite its major flaws, Adam moved me emotionally in a profound way. Anyone who has, or is close to someone who has an autism-spectrum disorder should be proud of Dancy’s brave portrayal. The film offers not only an accurate understanding of this increasingly-common affliction, but also hope for those who live with the condition every day.

On one hand, I am sorry that this small film probably won’t play on very many screens. On the other hand, a bigger budget would probably come with an insistence on “Hollywoodizing” the story. This would not be a good idea. Adam is currently playing in several big cities, including L.A., New York, and Chicago. It will come out on DVD soon. Please see it if you get the chance. It is so rare to walk way from a film knowing that you have not only witnessed a great performance, but have also gained a better understanding of a widespread condition on which we all need to be better educated.