TEHRAN – American filmmaker Marc Webb’s 2017 drama film “Gifted” was screened on Wednesday at Aras Baran Cultural Center in Tehran.
The screening of the film was followed by a review session attended by Iranian critic Kourosh Jahed.
“Gifted” explores themes of family, giftedness, and moral dilemmas surrounding the upbringing of gifted children.
The story follows Mary Adler, a seven-year-old girl with extraordinary mathematical abilities who lives with her uncle Frank in St. Petersburg, Florida. Frank, a former philosophy professor turned boat mechanic, has been raising Mary since her mother Diane tragically died when she was six months old. Diane herself was a talented mathematician who worked on complex Navier-Stokes problems before her death. Mary’s best friend is her neighbor Roberta, and her world revolves around her outstanding intelligence and desire to have a normal childhood.
From an early age, Mary showed remarkable talent in mathematics, impressing her teachers and classmates. Although she initially finds it boring and despises typical school work, her personality begins to change as she develops friendships. For example, she shows her caring side by bringing her pet Fred to show-and-tell and protecting her classmates from bullies.
Recognizing her talent, her teacher and principal considered offering her a scholarship to enroll her in a private school for gifted children. Frank is wary of the isolated environment and refuses, wanting Mary to enjoy a typical childhood.
The plot thickens when Mary’s maternal grandmother, Evelyn, a former mathematician, enters the picture. Evelyn believes that Mary’s talents should be used for the good of society and encourages her to seek professional guidance.
She sued for full custody of Frank, arguing that Mary should be maximized to her full potential. During court proceedings, it was revealed that Evelyn had socially isolated her daughter Diane in order to focus on work, and that Diane had attempted suicide after running away from her controlling mother. His financial hardships also became clear when Frank admitted to working low-paying jobs without health insurance.
Mary will eventually be placed in foster care near Frank and will attend a prestigious private school. Mary is devastated by this development, but she refuses to see Frank after his visit. However, Frank remains deeply in love with her. He rescues her cat, Fred, from the pound and exposes Evelyn’s oversight of Mary’s education. Frank confronts Evelyn and reveals that Diane completed the Navier Stokes problem but left instructions for its publication after Evelyn’s death, revealing that Diane feels deep resentment towards her mother.
In a heartfelt conclusion, Frank offers Evelyn a chance to publish Diane’s groundbreaking work if she drops the custody case. Reluctantly Evelyn agrees and Mary returns to Frank’s care. While she begins to live a more typical childhood in public school, she continues to pursue advanced studies on her own, balancing her extraordinary talent with her desire to be ordinary.
Critics praised Gifted’s heartfelt storytelling and strong performances, especially by Chris Evans and McKenna Grace. Grace’s performance was nominated for a Critics Choice Award and won a Phoenix Film Critics Association Award.
SAB/