“Ezra” … A Remarkable Encouragement!

Film Synopsis of “Ezra” → Stand-up comedian, Max (Bobby Cannavale) co-parents his autistic son, Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife, Jenna (Rose Byrne). Faced with crucial decisions about Ezra’s future, both Max & Ezra embark on a life-changing cross-country road trip together!

Ezra with Autism

Regrettably, this wasn’t a true story. I believe it should have been because everything about the film was authentic, from the behind-the-scenes work to its presentation on the big screen. The young actor who portrayed Ezra was autistic, and the casting department made sure to involve autistic individuals and professionals who work with autistic children in the production. The only inauthentic part of the movie is that it’s not based on a true story, despite Robert DeNiro, who portrays Ezra’s grandfather, having an autistic child himself. How moving is that? Very moving if you ask me. How about you? To have an autistic kid playing the role of an autistic kid?

Max & Jenna: Parenting an Autistic Ezra

In the context of co-parenting after a divorce, each situation is unique, with the potential for smooth or extremely complex outcomes. Max and Jenna exhibited vastly different parenting styles with their son, as observed in the film. Jenna was nurturing and overly protective, while Max was more direct and assertive. As a result, their son experienced the benefits of both approaches. It is essential to strike a balance between being cautious and open to love and tenderness, while also recognizing that not everyone is a threat. Co-parenting is something that some parents get right while others just cannot get at all.

Max’s Comedy

Max, a stand-up comedian, had always dreamed of performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Meanwhile, his son frequently attended his father’s comedy shows. Despite Max’s occasional bad temper, his love for his son was unwavering. However, sometimes parents, in their efforts to protect their children, may act impulsively, leading to unintended negative outcomes despite their good intentions. You can see the love that Ma has for his son in the film, he just brings it out in a “tough love” kind of way trying to teach his son that the world will chew you up and spit you right out and not care if you have autism or what.

The Closing Remarks …

I was truly moved by the film and its powerful message. The portrayal of the struggles and victories of a child with autism resonated with me. It’s heartwarming to see how much progress the child made, and it gives me hope that such outcomes can be a reality for many. I too wish this could have been a true story, as the impact of the film would have been even greater.