The Other Tom

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The Other Tom

Released Oct 14, 2022

1h 51m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Elena is a single mother who relies on Social Services. Her son Tom has behavioral issues and is stigmatized at school as a "problem child" in the border city of El Paso, Texas. An absent father further complicates their difficult relationship. Tom is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and prescribed psychiatric medication, but a strange accident alerts his mother as to its side effects. When Elena refuses to continue administering the drugs to Tom, Social Services threaten to remove him from her custody.

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Critics Consensus

Centered on a mother's struggle to provide care for her son, The Other Tom highlights the difficulty of meeting a child's mental health needs.

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Concepción de León

New York Times

The film, directed by Laura Santullo and Rodrigo Plá, ultimately falls flat, with unconvincing dialogue and a strained delivery by the actors.

Oct 13, 2022

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Guy Lodge

Variety

A quiet, character-driven drama that builds to a suspended, even nebulous conclusion.

Nov 10, 2021

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Aparita Bhandari

Globe and Mail

The Other Tom raises important questions about ways in which children's behaviour is judged - without considering personal and social contexts.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 16, 2021

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Nuha Hassan

Nuha Hassan (Medium)

It shines a light on the harrowing circumstances that single mothers and children with mental disorders are subjected to due to their socioeconomic backgrounds.

Sep 8, 2023

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Andrew Stover

Film Threat

Plá and Santullo cleverly avoid sentimentality and predictability by taking a more discreet and subtle direction that doesn’t have a clear destination.

Rated: 6.5/10

Nov 10, 2022

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

Poignant story of a mother trying to decide what is the best approach for dealing with her son who has ADHD.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 27, 2022

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Rodrigo Plá

Director

Laura Santullo

Director

Israel Rodríguez

Tom

Julia Chávez

Elena

Leah Miller

Dra. Bárbara

Malicia Domínguez

Rita

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Synopsis

Elena is a single mother who relies on Social Services. Her son Tom has behavioral issues and is stigmatized at school as a "problem child" in the border city of El Paso, Texas. An absent father further complicates their difficult relationship. Tom is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and prescribed psychiatric medication, but a strange accident alerts his mother as to its side effects. When Elena refuses to continue administering the drugs to Tom, Social Services threaten to remove him from her custody.

Director: Rodrigo Plá, Laura Santullo
Producer: Rodrigo Plá, Laura Santullo, Alejandro De Icaza, Sandino Saravia Vinay, Gabriela Maldonado
Screenwriter: Laura Santullo, Rodrigo Plá, Laura Santullo, Rodrigo Plá
Distributor: Outsider Pictures
Production Co: BHD Films, Buenaventura
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 2022, Limited
Runtime: 1h 51m

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