Samuel Goldwyn Films announced today that the company has acquired U.S. rights to Morgan Matthews’ “A Brilliant Young Mind” (formerly titled “X + Y”), his deeply affecting debut fiction feature inspired by his acclaimed 2007 documentary “Beautiful Young Minds.” “A Brilliant Young Mind” celebrated its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and moved audiences and critics alike. The emotionally uplifting drama stars Asa Butterfield (“Hugo,” “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”) as a teenage math prodigy on the autistic spectrum. Academy Award® nominee and Golden Globe® award winner Sally Hawkins, Rafe Spall and Eddie Marsan also star and deliver incredibly rich performances.
Preferring to hide in the safety of his own private world, Nathan (Asa Butterfield) struggles to connect with people, often pushing away those who want to be closest to him, including his mother Julie (Sally Hawkins). Without the ability to understand love or affection, Nathan finds the comfort and security he needs in numbers and mathematics. Mentored by his unconventional and anarchic teacher, Mr. Humphreys (Rafe Spall), it becomes clear that Nathan’s talents are enough to win him a place on the British team competing at the highly revered International Mathematics Olympiad. Being part of a team and one which has a real chance of winning seems like it could change Nathan’s life forever. But when the team goes to train in Taiwan, Nathan is faced with a multitude of unexpected challenges, not least the new and unfamiliar feelings he begins to experience for one of the Chinese competitors, the beautiful Zhang Mei (Jo Yang). From England to Taipei and back again, this inspiring and life-affirming story follows the unconventional and hilarious relationship between student and teacher, whose roles are often reversed, and the unfathomable experience of first love – when you don’t even understand what love is.
Goldwyn plans a Summer 2015 release.
According to Peter Goldwyn of Samuel Goldwyn Films: “We are excited to bring this incredibly moving and inspiring film to audiences around the country. The cast has tremendous chemistry and they each deliver remarkable performances. They will have you rooting for them from the beginning to the end of the film.”
Origin Pictures added: “We are thrilled at the passion and enthusiasm that Samuel Goldwyn Films have shown for our film and hope American audiences will find it as moving, funny and engaging as audiences around the world have to date.”
A BBC Films and BFI presentation in association with Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology, Screen Yorkshire and Lipsync Prods. of an Origin Pictures/Minnow Films production. Produced by Laura Hastings-Smith and David M. Thompson. Co-produced by Ed Rubin. Executive produced by Christine Langan, Joe Oppenheimer, Lizzie Francke, Phil Hunt, Compton Ross, Hugo Heppell, Norman Merry, Peter Hampden. Screenplay by James Graham.
