A slow burn of a movie, Nowhere Special is about a terminally ill single father trying to find the perfect family for his young son to live with before he goes. A great film that will bring the waterworks.
A lot of people miss things about children. They think they know what children are thinking, who they are, and how they are, but very often, they don’t. The child will tell you, but you have to step out of your own way and let them lead. That was my first lesson from my son when I brought him back from the hospital. I could guide him and put rules in place, but if I wanted to know who he was, I had to really see him.
Nowhere Special is a film about John and his 4 year-old son, Michael. John, a single father with no family, has just been presented with a terminal diagnosis and, as he continues to get sicker, he wants to find the perfect people to raise his child. He is also struggling with how, when, and if he should tell Michael that he is dying.
This is a lovely small drama that sneaks up on you as you’re watching. The subject matter is difficult, but John is mostly stoic and Michael is a beautiful child (seriously, you can’t stop looking at him) with all of the curiosities and boundary testing of a 4-year old. But as you watch, you see Michael’s awareness that something is not quite right, even if he doesn’t understand what is happening.
Over the course of the film, you meet many prospective families for Michael. You develop opinions and love for the boy yourself, so you begin to create your own opinions about who should adopt him and who absolutely shouldn’t. But it’s subtle. So many of the prospective parents make the situation about themselves, even when they think they don’t. You are looking for the one who really sees Michael and not their own assumptions.
I cried a few times during this film and then had a big old ugly cry at the end. Nothing big happens – this is about all of the small moments. The birthday cakes and pajamas, trucks and window washing. But it also makes you confront how one goes about leaving their entire heart (Michael) with someone else because they know that they have to leave. They have no choice and how do they explain that to him? What do they leave for him to remember them by?
Nowhere Special is in English, but I highly recommend that you watch it with subtitles on, at least for a while. Their Irish accents are very thick and they speak quickly, so you are guaranteed to miss things while you are working out what was last said.
This is a charming and heartfelt film with a small story and massive amounts of heart. Definitely watch it, you’ll be glad that you did.
Runtime: 95 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: Not Rated (I’d say somewhere around PG)
Languages Spoken In The Film: English (but you may want subtitles on)
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Yes, several times
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Available: Free on Peacock, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
A lot of people miss things about children. They think they know what children are thinking, who they are, and how they are, but very often, they don’t. The child will tell you, but you have to step out of your own way and let them lead. That was my first lesson from my son when I brought him back from the hospital. I could guide him and put rules in place, but if I wanted to know who he was, I had to really see him.
