Ryder Allen, who plays Sam, is outstanding in his first feature film and it’s thanks to him that it becomes an even more inspiring and enjoyable watch. Allen captures his unique character with such wholeness and magic, as the young boy he plays strikingly challenges the concept of masculinity – Sam loves to play with dolls and dress up as a fairy, but what he, along with the script, is most beautiful at doing is sending a reminder to everyone out there to just be yourself and disregard any boundaries that society bestows upon you.
Allen’s performance offers a wonderful range of skills, through his feistiness in Sam to the heart-breaking moments he endures as a result of bullying. For a young actor, Allen is definitely one to watch over the next few years and it’s commendable how he alone turned the story’s familiar territory into something incredibly touching.