‘ONCE MORE LIKE RAIN MAN’ (2025) Neurodiverse authenticity and laughs. Bravo.

Director Sue Ann Pien‘s short film ONCE MORE LIKE RAIN MAN tells the story of an autistic teen pounding the pavement for an acting gig, all while navigating stereotypes from those behind the camera and life in general. In 14 minutes, Bella Zoe Martinez gives Zoe the vibrant, hilarious, raw, and unfiltered qualities that I have come to experience in the wide world of neurodiversity. Her comic timing is chef’s kiss. The script, penned by Martinez and her parents, Melissa Martinez-Areffi and Andrew J. Areffi, does an exquisite job at tackling the culmination of everyday existence as an individual on the spectrum.

 

Martinez gives audiences a tangible example of overstimulation in public places. Sometimes it’s scary, other times it’s not. It’s often separating yourself from the space to take a breath. As a neurodivergent Mom of two neurospicy children, Zoe is every aspect of my kids and me. Her need to follow rules, literal thinking, and penchant for justice are all things that simply exist for us. Oh, and her counting of curse words? Yeah, that too.

 

Performance was my safe place from a young age. I got to disappear into someone else. I got to escape the anxiety of being myself. Hell, even speaking other people’s words made me feel more confident. I was better at being someone else. And yeah, I know now that was my way of studying to mask. I became extremely confident because I was good at everything, but what people didn’t see was the endless fear that I felt. It was all to cover my Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. Weeee. This entire short is a metaphor for my childhood.

 

Ryan Shelstad‘s editing is fun and fast-paced. Zoe’s costume is colorful and quirky in a way that makes complete sense. Martinez effortlessly owns each beat and frame. It was awesome to see familiar industry faces throughout the film. Make sure you stay through the credits for one final earned guffaw.

 

ONCE MORE LIKE RAIN MAN manages to tap into the extraordinary nuance of autism with authentic humor while showing the frustrating ignorance of the neurotypical population. The short is both a teaching tool AND a genuinely fantastic piece of storytelling about a determined girl chasing her passion. Bravo.