X + Y

Sixteen-year-old Nathan Ellis (Asa Butterfield of “Hugo”) has always been the “weird” one. At the age of nine, he was identified as being on the autism spectrum, both with gifts (he is particularly adept at math) and challenges (he has a hard time communicating). Yet, among the other teenage contenders for the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO), Nathan is, for the first time, utterly average. And only six of the 20 or so semi-finalists will have the opportunity to represent the United Kingdom in the most prestigious mathematics competition for high school students in the world. With the support of cynical math teacher Mr. Humphreys, a former IMO competitor with multiple sclerosis, and mom Julie, Nathan heads to a training camp in Taipei. But, on this journey, Nathan may have to prove more than just math theorems. Morgan Matthews’s X+Y – inspired by his 2007 documentary about the IMO selection process, “Beautiful Young Minds” – is a heartwarming coming-of-age drama about relishing in life’s unknowns. – E.B.