This bittersweet, sentimental tale of interlocking awkwardness follows troubled teenage genius Nathan (Asa Butterfield) to Taiwan in pursuit of International Mathematical Olympiad qualification, leaving his bereaved mum (Sally Hawkins) and physically failing mentor (Rafe Spall) to lock affectionate horns back home. While the story is somewhat schematic (you can plot the vectors of the narrative from the angles of the opening moves), the performances are absolutely lovely: Spall in brilliant form as the sardonic but inspiring maths teacher, Mr Humphreys; Hawkins hiding the pain of her son’s isolation behind forced smiles and worried eyes; Eddie Marsan on the money as Team UK’s ultra-competitive leader.
As Nathan, Butterfield, who impressed in Hugo and the underrated Ender’s Game, is ably guided by director Morgan Matthews, who draws on his Bafta-nominated documentary Beautiful Young Minds for insight into Nathan’s place on the spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders. The result is rather charming, often funny, occasionally surprising and consistently heartwarming.
