Kids Like Me
Twelve-year-old Oliver lives with his seven-year-old-sister Willa, father Chad, and mother Casey in a small town in Massachusetts. Oliver’s obsession with mystery novels and detective shows inspires him to make his own movie. While his body finds physical challenges, the only real hurdle is the limits of his imagination. Welcome to Cynthia L and Jon Cohrs‘ Tribeca doc, Kids Like Me.
Oliver is a charming, endlessly creative, incredibly intelligent, brutally honest young man. You instantly fall in love with his infectious enthusiasm and acerbic wit. Chad and Casey have to navigate something I’m also very familiar with: a second child who is also an energetic and creative girl. The dynamics of fairness, attention, and concessions of a sibling who often feels second-rate to one with additional needs can be incredibly challenging, and, as a parent, you constantly feel like you are failing. Willa is unsurprisingly self-aware. The relationship between Oliver and Willa is complex in all the relatable ways.
My son has a full-time para during the school day. Someone to help him navigate dysregulation caused by his AuDHD diagnosis. Witnessing the accessibility and accommodations that Oliver has in school made my heart sing. Although I should not be surprised since we reside in neighboring New England states. Even with the best health insurance in the country, Oliver’s family has to jump through hoops to access proper care for their son.
The editing from Victoria Lesiw is so compelling. The mix of Oliver’s medical dynamic and his everyday adoration of mystery writing reels you in from the beginning. Victoria Lesiw cuts Oliver’s storytelling into the narrative in real time. You are never bored. Your brain is constantly activated by Oliver’s wild ideas and what might seem mundane daily life. Kids Like Me is anything but mundane.
Kids Like Me is one of the year’s best films. It is a hill I am willing to die on. If you disagree, I’ll just have Oliver write me an epic final monologue. Homemade fake blood is my only request.
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