ADAM. Great Film Worthy of the Highest Attention

What matters most in Adam is the honesty and authenticity we see on screen. Unlike other romantic comedies, this film doesn’t create an artificial world where everyone is happy and everything inevitably leads to a happy ending.

Films about people suffering from incurable conditions have long enjoyed great popularity. For a director, they offer a chance to create a work that delivers powerful emotions and deep sentiment. They are also a challenge for the actor in the leading role, who must convincingly portray the illness that afflicts their character. Cinema history is full of successful films on this subject — such as the much-awarded Forrest Gump or A Beautiful Mind, which featured some of the best performances in the careers of Tom Hanks and Russell Crowe. Adam will probably never reach the popularity of those masterpieces, but it is nevertheless a title worthy of the highest attention.

The titular Adam is a young man with Asperger’s syndrome — a mild form of autism that significantly complicates social interaction. He often talks about things that interest only him, paying no attention to others’ lack of interest. He cannot detect irony in their words and frequently surprises people with his directness and lack of restraint. All this leads to Adam’s alienation, exacerbated by two personal tragedies: the death of his father, his only living guardian, and later, his dismissal from his job at a toy factory.

In the meantime, however, he meets his new neighbor, Beth. The two begin to feel increasingly drawn to each other, leading them to attempt to build a relationship. But is this truly deep, genuine love, or merely a bond rooted in mutual attempts to learn how to navigate a world full of hypocrisy?

The plot may not be particularly original, but that’s not where the film’s strength lies. What matters most is the honesty and authenticity we see on screen. Unlike other romantic comedies, there is no attempt to create an artificial world where everyone is happy and everything heads toward a happy ending. Life does not spare the protagonist; even the person closest to him — the one he loves — may turn out to be someone inclined to bend the truth. Deception, miscommunication, and reluctance to talk openly are themes that run through the entire film and affect all the characters.

Beth has just left a previous relationship and is still unable to free herself from the influence of her father, who tries to direct her life. He himself is facing charges in court for illegal dealings about which he was not at all honest with those closest to him. There is also Adam’s best friend, Harlan, who, in his youth, abandoned the woman he loved after learning of her mistake — and never spoke to her again, something he later deeply regretted. As we can see, the challenges of understanding another person affect all of us.

The film stands strong in terms of acting. Hugh Dancy delivers a truly phenomenal performance. It is immediately clear that his character is an introverted young man who always lingers on the margins of society, seemingly frightened by the presence of others.

Only when he speaks passionately about space or watches raccoons living in the park do we see genuine fascination, wonder, and joy on his face. He is partnered by Rose Byrne, who brilliantly portrays the complex and difficult relationships connecting her with Adam and with her father. The entire story is well shot and enriched with a gentle and charming score by Christophe Lennertz.

At the end of 2009, I was deeply moved by the independent film 500 Days of Summer. Adam, which debuted a the same year, is another independent production that has stayed with me ever since. It is a wise, beautiful, and touching film, absolutely worth seeing, because from the very first moments — which include a lovely reference to The Little Prince — one feels in the presence of something truly special. A small, great film.