A Brilliant Young Mind (2014)

A socially awkward teenage math prodigy finds new confidence and new friendships when he lands a spot on the British squad at the International Mathematics Olympiad.

Director:

Morgan Matthews

Writer:

James Graham

Stars:

Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins

4 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Asa Butterfield	...	Nathan Ellis
Rafe Spall	...	Martin Humphreys
Sally Hawkins	...	Julie Ellis
Eddie Marsan	...	Richard
Jo Yang	...	Zhang Mei
Martin McCann	...	Michael Ellis
Jake Davies	...	Luke Shelton
Alex Lawther	...	Isaac Cooper
Alexa Davies	...	Rebecca Dunn
Orion Lee	...	Deng Laoshi
Edward Baker-Close	...	Nathan Ellis (9 yrs)
Percelle Ascott	...	Ben Morgan
Suraj Rattu	...	Pav Kamdar
Jamie Ballard	...	Headmaster
Clare Burt	...	Doctor

Storyline

In a world difficult to comprehend, Nathan struggles to connect with those around him - most of all his loving mother - but finds comfort in numbers. When Nathan is taken under the wing of unconventional and anarchic teacher, Mr. Humphreys, the pair forge an unusual friendship and Nathan's talents win him a place on the UK team at the International Mathematics Olympiad. From suburban England to bustling Taipei and back again, Nathan builds complex relationships as he is confronted by the irrational nature of love.

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Plot Keywords:

mathematics | mother son relationship | loss of father | autism | teacher student relationship | 

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Taglines:

Is there a formula for love?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

N: Rated PG-13 for some strong language, a sexual reference, drug material and disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 September 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Brilliant Young Mind

Filming Locations:

Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,408, 13 September 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$139,511, 4 October 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films,British Film Institute (BFI),Head Gear Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the filming locations was High Storrs School in Sheffield, England.

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Goofs

Immediately before the Olympiad begins, a team is huddled together and shout in unison, "Aussie aussie aussie, oi, oi, oi!" A familiar cry for Australians especially at sporting events, the group disbands and they are actually New Zealanders not Australians (Aussies). They wear the "All Blacks" of New Zealand colour and have Kiwi motifs on their shirts.

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Quotes

Isaac Cooper: Its all about adaptability, Nathan. Sometimes you have to change your shape... to fit in.

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Connections

References Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)

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Soundtracks

Sweetheart, What Have You Done to Us
Written and performed by Keaton Henson
Published by Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd
Licensed courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd

User Reviews

A wonderful surprise, one of the best this year!

This movie came onto my radar because of the talent involved, I didn't really know what to expect, so I blindly went to see it.

From the start this film pulls you in and pull on your heart- strings. Granted, I was jet-lagged when I saw it, which probably explained why I was teary-eyed for much of the film. The movie, is very much a character film. It tackles every aspect of Nathan's life and that of the people around him. The film manages to be a family drama, a coming of age movie with a dash of romance, and a comedy at the same time. It all seamlessly fit together and keep you captivated.

The cast is out of this world. The group of young actors they chose is simply impressive because they are all so natural that it's easy to believe that they are the characters they're portraying. Asa Butterfield is wickedly talented and morphed into Nathan for the duration of the film.

Morgan Matthews' background in documentary film-making has a huge impact on how realistic and natural the film feels. The film really shows a wide spectrum of teenagers, among the socially awkward, quirky, math prodigy children. He conveys a strong message by showcasing these kids as they are and not falling into common stereotypes.

A Brilliant Young Mind is a gem that I would recommend to every one. I LOVED this film, it's touching and amazingly well made.

@Wornoutspines