I watched, “Keep the Change” based on a short description of the plot, which said that a man is sent to a support group where he meets someone and falls in love. It didn’t say what kind of support group, but they started with something in common, so I gave it a shot. The support group turns out to be a summer day program for individuals on the Autism spectrum and others with special needs.

From imdb, a plot summary:
When aspiring filmmaker David is mandated by a judge to attend a social program at the Jewish Community Center, he is sure of one thing: he doesn’t belong there. But when he’s assigned to visit the Brooklyn Bridge with the vivacious Sarah, sparks fly and his convictions are tested. Their budding relationship must weather Sarah’s romantic past, David’s judgmental mother, and their own pre-conceptions of what love is supposed to look like.

Although it doesn’t come out and say it at imdb, this movie appears to be a hybrid between fiction and documentary, as the lines between what’s on the screen and the real life actors blur. From the trivia section at imdb:

On the same night the movie premiered in NYC (March 16th 2018), Jessy and The Fancy Cats an oldies cover music group on the autism spectrum from New Jersey (who are fans of the movie and friends of Brandon Polansky and Samantha Elisofon) paid tribute to the movie at their Motown/Soul Tribute Concert at Mt. Bethel Village in Warren, NJ performing “You Make Me Feel Brand New” by The Stylistics with founding members Jessy Leppert and Jodi Hadam (who were a real life couple at the time) parodying the scene where David and Sarah talk about going to the Brooklyn Bridge and after the performance, Jessy and The Fancy Cats (Jessy Leppert, Jodi Hadam, Danielle Strauss and Jess Kramer) won an award for outstanding performance.

The only actor I recognized in, “Keep the Change” is Jessica Walter, who plays Matriarch/Mother Bloom on, “Arrested Development.”

I enjoyed this movie because it seemed real, not just a story on the screen. I liked it because the characters don’t have the social filters that usually keep people controlled and civilized. Some of the things they say are a little shocking and sometimes offputting, but at the same time quite refreshing. No hidden agendas here. I like this movie for what it doesn’t say as much as for what it does say. There are stories within stories here. I appreciate the sensitivity with which the director tells the romantic tale.  This film is also very humorous!

Lessons I learned from, “Keep the Change,” are not to be so danged judgmental of others – and of myself!  I learned that there are marvelous groups out there that pull “the outcasts” together and help them build a vibrant sense of community with each other.

Those who I think might like this are sensitive individuals who can appreciate the lovely personalities – even when they get ugly! – of the actors in this movie. Those who may be on the autism spectrum might recognize themselves in the characters and feel good about it.

Final word: Wonderful

Scale of 1-5:    4.5

The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI, short for Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique) is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world for “the promotion and development of film culture and for the safeguarding of professional interests.” It was founded in June 1930 in Brussels, Belgium. At present it has members in more than 50 countries worldwide.

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2017 awarded director, Rachel Israel, The FIPRESCI prize, stating:

“Our prize is “For a glorious first feature which tells the story of a colourful group of New Yorkers, who in any other film would be labelled as ‘outsiders’. Instead Israel lets us experience their world from the inside, and it’s a wonderous place to be. It is a tender film with a simple narrative, driven by complex emotions. By letting herself be inspired by her magnificent actors’ personal experiences of life on the autism spectrum, writer/director Rachel Israel has created a work that is inclusive, fresh and thoroughly engaging. It has also one of the funniest scripts we have ever come across, with a sense of humour that ranges from the crude jokes of conflicted protagonist David, to the no-nonsense cutoffs by its leading lady Sarah – a female character with a personal brand of vivaciousness never before seen on the cinema screen. We were deeply affected by this heartfelt story of coming of age and finding love, proving there is nothing wrong with being weird.”

The Tribeca Film Festival awarded director, Rachel Israel an award for Best New Narrative Director in 2017 and said:

“For this award, we were looking for a filmmaker with a fearless, authentic voice. Our decision was unanimous. This filmmaker created a world full of vibrant characters often under-represented in cinema. It is a unique, yet universal love story told in a way we’ve never seen. We anxiously await to see what this filmmaker does next. We are so thrilled to present the award for Best New Narrative Director to Rachel Israel for Keep the Change.”