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WAYANG KIDS, THE

I really love this film. It portrays a group of kids performing a Chinese opera with the main character being autistic. I am autistic myself and because of that, I've always wished to see more autistic characters represented in films. I was very happy to see an autistic character as the protagonist. Not only that, but I thought the protagonist was very realistic. I enjoyed the way autism is portrayed in this movie. The cinematography of this film is well done, however there is nothing really extraordinary. The attires look mostly modern except for the costumes, which stand out the most. The movie takes place in Singapore and is beautifully produced. The music sounds very Asian, which enhances the scenes about the Chinese opera that the kids are performing. There is one scene that uses a green screen. It looks alright and it's only for this one scene. The main characters are Open and Bao Er. Open stands out to me as he is the character with autism and I enjoyed his portrayal of autism very much. What I like about this most is the message that everyone is different yet special in their own way. My favorite scenes are the scenes that focus specifically on Open's autism. I give this 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 to 18. This would definitely play well in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festivals. It is perfect for kids and families to enjoy together. Reviewed by Calista B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

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A feel-good comedy about a boy named Open who has autism. Open is good at drawing and dreams about taking part in a performance. A girl called Baoer discovers Open's dream and, together with the classmates, they help Open fulfill his dream. This is a film about accepting others for who they are, depicting human differences and that, in the end, we can unite.