The Rainbow Kid (2015) User Reviews

Not what you were expecting

[Luna-Phaedra · 8/10 · 23 December 2015]

If you want a film that centres around characters with disabilities, but don't want any happy-go-lucky pandering, this is a film worth watching. A great combination of adventure, humour and drama all wrapped up in a realistic (and surprisingly dark) package. And when I say dark, I mean DARK. It's starts off small (some bullying and poverty issues) and then it escalates step by step (robbery, abuse, etc.), easing you into things until BAM! The drama skyrockets in a way that you wouldn't expect for a movie about a kid following a rainbow.

Speaking of the kid (Eugene), this was an awesome character to watch. Brave, sarcastic, doesn't put up with BS and is certainly one of the sanest people in this story (which I'm sure they did on purpose). But the most interesting things about him are his character development and the way he USES having a disability to his advantage. When he wants to avoid attention or have people not take him as a threat, he will pretend to be more disabled than he is so that they won't push him around. And this kid starts off as someone who would use this to hide from bullies out of fear; but, by the end of the film, pushes back his fears and becomes a hero in SO many ways, more than you would expect from any everyday person.

Truth be told I came to see this movie without high expectations. I was just there to support my cousin who was one of the many physically and/or mentally disabled actors cast for the film. But I left that theatre completely floored with how well this story was done. It's honestly worth watching, you'll be sure to enjoy it.

Surprisingly Morose Yet Excellent

[SusieSalmonLikeTheFish · 10/10 · 25 February 2017]

I don't know why this utterly brilliant and amazing Canadian feature film hasn't already received a huge amount of publicity and support. Maybe people expect it to be a hokey story about a disabled boy who finds a pot of gold or something which, to be fair, is understandable due to its poster image. But this film is everything it initially appears not to be. Dark, horrific and intense. The Rainbow Kid starts off well enough, a happy kid with Down's Syndrome who loves rainbows. Actually don't be put off by that either, because he's not into rainbows because he views them as some kind of Care Bears type symbol or anything like that. He loves rainbows because they symbolize a path to finance and riches and good luck, which his family could seriously use. Eugene's life is alright, in fact it's usually pretty normal, but right away it shows viewers the things we'd like to pretend don't happen in our politically correct society. That ugly side of Down's Syndrome which Eugene experiences every day. As a modern teenager with Down's Syndrome he has been integrated into public school and lives at home with his parents, but if it's not being bullied and manipulated that Eugene has to put up with one day, it's poverty and coddling the next day. Contrary to what many people throughout the film think, Eugene is not stupid and he proves himself to be incredibly resourceful. When he runs away from home one day, he discovers a world in which the people in it are often very supportive, but their lives are often just as troubled and depressing as his own. It's one girl he meets though who changes him profoundly, and who probably changes viewers profoundly, too.

This film is scenic, harrowing and unforgettable, especially the acting. Dylan Harman takes a powerful center stage as Eugene and some of his scenes are ones I don't think I will ever forget. Julian Richings steals the show as usual with his evocative and talented performance as Elvis Grimes. Krystal Nausbaum as Anna was excellent in her role as a girl whose household is full of trauma and confusion. The setting was uniquely Canadian and Eugene's tour of Ontario is as unforgettable as the people he runs into along his journey. I loved the soundtrack too, and the story is anything but predictable. If you're going into this film expecting a happy little Disney-esque tale or a story treating Eugene like a special snowflake or a martyr, think again. In fact Eugene proves that we need to stop treating people with Down's Syndrome as martyrs as much as we need to stop treating them as "retarded". If anything, we need to just start treating them as equal human beings like everybody else. This film is dark without being melodramatic, with some of the same elements as an urban noir novel, which completely blew my mind. It's not the easiest film in the world to find but it has been released on DVD so if you get the chance to watch it, don't just pass it by because you'll be totally surprised by how deep it actually is.