Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
For twenty years, Bruno and Malik have lived in a different world—the world of autistic children and teens. In charge of two separate nonprofit organizations (The Hatch & The Shelter), they train young people from underprivileged areas to be caregivers for extreme cases that have been refused by all other institutions. It’s an exceptional partnership, outside of traditional settings, for some quite extraordinary characters.
The Specials (2019) is a French dramedy inspired by the real-life work of two remarkable social entrepreneurs — Stéphane Benhamou and Daoud Tatou — giving it an authenticity and moral weight that sets it apart. Vincent Cassel and Reda Kateb deliver powerhouse performances that anchor the film's emotional core, earning a strong acting mark. The subject matter — marginalized autistic youth cared for by at-risk young people from the banlieues — is genuinely distinctive and handled with unusual directness and warmth, making Novelty a real strength. Direction by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano (the duo behind Intouchables) keeps the tone deftly balanced between comedy and pathos. Cinematography is competent and naturalistic but not particularly distinguished. The plot is episodic and leans on real-world case vignettes rather than a strong dramatic arc, which limits its narrative drive. The ending resolves themes more than story, feeling somewhat open and inconclusive — serviceable but not fully satisfying.