James Graham
X and Y
Inspired by Morgan Matthews' documentary Beautiful Young Minds, James Graham's X + Y is a rites of passage drama about a teenage prodigy's journey to the Mathematics Olympiad and his quest to find a formula for love. It is a heart-warming and uplifting comedy which follows one extraordinary teenager as he finds his place in the world.
Backed by BBC Films and BFI, X + Y is directed by the BAFTA-winning director Morgan Matthews and stars Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins, Asa Butterfield and Eddie Marsan.
X and Y was listed on the Britlist 2011 and was selected for the Toronto International and London Film Festival in 2014 before being released in cinemas worldwide in Spring 2015.
[X and Y] is nicely understated and takes a thoughtful, measured approach to a story where all the emotional highs are honestly obtained... this has real potential to become a crowd pleasing mainstream British hit and to travel.
Allan HunterScreen Daily
Matthews and Graham have made Nathan’s own narrative sufficiently engrossing to sustain empathy and generate a rooting interest as the protagonist journeys to Taipei for an IMO preliminary... a satisfying, compelling drama with definite crossover potential on screens of all sizes.
Joe LeydonVariety
[X and Y is a] deeply affecting, sensitively handled British drama
Leslie FelperinThe Hollywood Reporter
this is an attractively unparochial drama with a bracing interest in excellence
Peter BradshawThe Guardian Full Review
This, though, is a very likeable, well-observed and ultimately uplifting film
Geoffrey MacnabThe Independent Full Review
a clever, imaginative, supple movie, true to itself in spirit and essence
Nigel AndrewsThe Financial Times Full Review