Review of Keep the Change (2018) by Fileb — 13 Jan 2020

Such a powerful movie! The context is app'tly Autism yet in my experience could also be Bipolar Disorder (or another mental health condition ...) Basically, everyone who knows someone who is differently-abled ought to see this movie — this means all of us, especially parents & family of differently-abled people! "Keep the Change" touched my heart sooo much.

It's basically a standard romcom so whoever complains that that's what it is is missing the point. The story is driven much more by the fact that one person is "okay with their condition" (or perhaps doesn't even know they're so-called "different", because they have this condition that prevents them from seeing it .

..) whereas the other person sees the other person's difference AND their own and is ASHAMED for both their sakes (and at times acts out cruelly because of this) ... while they are starting to fall in love with this other person who is "open" and "accepting" towards themselves and towards them.

The person who was "cut off" from themselves is learning to overcome the harsh judgment that they feel inside for not being considered "normal" (starting, I would say, inside the family unit) .

.. It is in some ways the story of a bully learning to love — and we capture some glimpses of why they may have cut themselves off from love and turned to bullying behaviour instead. If we changed a few things it could be a science fiction arc and yet it's firmly set in the present and at one with our cultural moment: It features a talented diversity & inclusion cast.

A fantastic achievement. Powerful, subtle, compassionate & uplifting, a must-see. A great movie to stock in places like schools, prisons, hospitals, libraries, military bases & spiritual/uplifting movie circles.