Meet Max Mayer director of ADAM, an official selection in the Dramatic Competition at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
ADAM
DIRECTOR/ SCREENWRITER: Max Mayer
U.S.A., 2009, 95 min., color
In movies, when two twentysomethings serendipitously wind up under the same Manhattan roof, witty repartee usually transpires, then sparks fly, and eventually they fall into bed. But the boy and the girl in Adam are no ordinary characters, and their romance is anything but familiar. Soon after moving in, Beth, a brainy, beautiful writer, encounters Adam, the handsome, but odd, fellow in the downstairs apartment. A pleasant chemistry flows, but his awkwardness is perplexing.
Whether avoiding eye contact or standing by blithely while Beth drags a heavy load up steep stairs, Adam seems utterly oblivious to social convention. Then one night, Adam regales Beth with an elaborate outer-space light show. It’s a magical moment, tainted slightly by his obsessively thorough astronomical explanation. Their connection is palpable. It becomes clear that Adam’s inability to decipher nonverbal signals is beyond his control. And yet Beth doesn’t balk.
What makes this rare story about obstacles to human intimacy credible is its tremendous psychological wisdom; what makes it transcendent is the intelligence and authenticity radiating from actors Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. Though their particular challenges are extraordinary, Beth and Adam’s tricky relationship elucidates something universal: truly reaching another person means bravely stretching into discomfiting territory— and the shake-up can be liberating.
—CAROLINE LIBRESCO
ExP: Dan Revers, Chistina Weiss Lurie Pr: Leslie Urdang, Miranda De Pencier, Dean Vanech CoP: Gary Guidice, Geoff Linville Ci: Seamus Tierney Ed: Grant Myers PrD: Tamar Gadish Principal Cast: Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Frankie Faison, Peter Gallagher, Amy Irving, Mark Linn-Baker
January 21st, 2009 - 9:58 pm
[...] following movies were picked up after their first screening at Sundance: ADAM, AN EDUCATION, THE WINNING SEASON, HUMPDAY, BLACK DYNAMITE, BROOKLYN’S FINEST, and DEAD [...]
January 24th, 2009 - 9:26 pm
Dear Mr. Mayer, My husband and our two daughters have Asperger’s. Thank you so much for making this film. I can’t wait to see it. In the clip when Adam is going on about the theather, I wish I could tell you how many times I have had the conversation with someone in my household about pokemon, hello kitty or engines and the list goes on. Thank you so much. Nancy Meyers
January 28th, 2009 - 10:05 am
[...] Prize: World Cinema Dramatic, for Originality LOUISE-MICHEL Alfred P. Sloan Award ADAM Watch the Sundance Channel interview with Max Mayer, director of ADAM, here. Jury prize in US Short Filmmaking SHORT TERM 12 International Jury Prize in Short [...]
August 24th, 2009 - 4:15 pm
Hello Mr. Mayer,
I work in the field of autism and was delighted by your beautiful film. I found the scene in the school yard to be of particular interest. There is a huge concern in the autism community about first responders/police and the treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders in the criminal justice system. This is a huge issue especially for individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome. In my work, I develop trainings to help the community (families and professional) develop knowledge about ASD and skills to provide appropriate supports. I find your creative approach to tell the story through film a much more fun and entertaining way to reach a broader audience. Thank you so much!
Thank you for such a touching and important film.