New Film 'Ezra,' Spotlights Dad, Son's Autism Journey Of Love, Hope

NORTH FORK, NY — There's a film opening this week that's a triumphant testament to the powerful bond between a parent and a child — a tour de force that celebrates family, loyalty, and deep, abiding love.

Written by the North Fork's Tony Spiridakis — the founder and executive director of the new North Fork Arts Center at the Sapan Greenport Theatre, as well as the revered Manhattan Film Institute — the film is directed by Spiridakis' longtime friend and collaborator Tony Goldwyn.

"Ezra," according to a release, spotlights the story of a stand-up comedian, Max Bernale, played by Bobby Cannavale, living with his father, portrayed by Robert De Niro — while co-parenting his autistic son Ezra (William Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife, in a performance by Rose Byrne.

"When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact on both their lives," the description reads.

The cast also features Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg.

"'Ezra' is an endearing and often funny exploration of a family determined to find their way through life’s complexities with humor, compassion, and heart," according to Bleeker Street Media LLC, the production company that acquired the film after the Toronto International Film Festival.

The premise of the film centers on Max, who, to keep Ezra from being enrolled in a school he doesn't believe will be best for him, takes his son on a road trip to Los Angeles; the boy's mother reports the boy kidnapped and a nationwide Amber Alert is issued.

Spiridakis recently cut the ribbon on the new NFAC after a hometown, community-driven fundraising campaign to raise $1 million, save the theater and create a not-for-profit arts center saw an outpouring reminiscent of "It's A Wonderful Life".

And now, Spiridakis will see "Ezra" debut at the NFAC, at the very theater in Greenport that holds so much of his heart.

Guests will be able to view the debut on May 31; the event will include small bites and wine, with the film shown in all three theaters and Goldwyn introducing the film. After the premiere, a Q and Q will take place with Cannavale, Byrne, and Goldwyn, with that interview simulcast in each theater.

For those that miss the opening performance, "Ezra" will be shown at the NFAC for three weeks, Spiridakis said.

"Ezra" symbolizes a 12-year journey for Spiridakis, born of his own love for his son Dimitri, who is autistic.

"I started writing scenes about what I was going through in my life with my son. I thought, 'I'm going to write this down, to capture what it was like,'" Spiridakis said. "One scene led to another."

Three years ago, Spiridakis' lifetime friend Goldwyn — known for his iconic role in "Ghost" —read a draft, and said, "Let's do this," he said.

Cannavale was soon cast as Max. And then, he said, there was Robert De Niro, in the role of Ezra's grandfather.

"It was a hail mary," Spiridakis said. "The odds of getting Robert De Niro to be in your movie are slim to none."

But De Niro, who has a son on the autism spectrum, as well, read the script and in just three days, reached out, Spiridakis said. "He said, 'Look, I'm interested, but we need some more work done.'"

Spiridakis found a way to add the three scenes De Niro had suggested, and the proverbial stars aligned.

Producers John Kilik and William Horberg were soon onboard.

"We found an incredible young actor to play Ezra," Spiridakis said. "William Fitzgerald is a 13-year-old boy, who's also autistic and who has never acted before. From the beginning, he was absolutely brilliant. There is such great chemistry with Bobby Cannavale, playing Max, with Rose Byrne and Robert De Niro."

Spiridakis added: "This film is extremely special. It's a real labor of love — two best friends who got together to make a movie. Tony Goldwyn is not just an actor and director — he's my son's godfather and uncle. He's family."

Writing the film was a deeply meaningful journey for Spiridakis, he said.

"This was about leaving information behind, in an entertaining and moving film. Hopefully, this will help other families who have loved ones on the spectrum," Spiridakis said. "The whole point of the film is to have people feel as though they have common ground. So many people carry these experiences — it's great to see it represented on the screen in such an authentic way."

Both Horberg and De Niro also have shared Spiridakis' experience, of raising beloved neurodivergent children on the spectrum, he said. "We came to this with a lot of experience. When we made the film, we made sure we did it with love."

Spiridakis' life with Dimitri also inspired his 2017 television pilot "Greenport," filmed around the village. "The show was a precursor to this film, about a person trying to get a movie made. I was turning it into a flat-out comedy — a way to make people able to laugh."

He added: "'Ezra' does that, as well, it has the same kind of DNA. At times, it's a very funny film. But make no mistake, it's a drama."

To do both, and do it well, to "thread that needle, is hard to do," Spiridakis said.

The film has generated much buzz, an official pick of the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, with reviews praising the sensitive and emotional tour de force. "Ezra," Deadline said, is "a touching testament to the power of love," adding that Cannavale "is nothing short of brilliant."

Julia Roberts, whose husband cinematographer Danny Moder worked on the film, praised Whoopi Goldberg's performance while appearing on "The View." "Ezra," she said during the interview, is a "beautiful movie."

But despite the accolades and acclaim, as well as a star-studded cast and crew, "Ezra" is, at its heart, a love letter from a parent to a child.

One line in the film resonates. "You know, the word 'autism' comes from Greek, 'in your own world,'" Cannavale says, as Max. "I don't want him in his own world. I want him in this world."

The emotions depicted are universal, Spiridakis said. "It’s not only a film about the parenting of a neurodivergent child. It's about parenting, period. Whether your son or daughter is on the spectrum or not, the film speaks to parents — it's about what we all we go through."

All parents, Spiridakis said, will recognize those moments when sometimes there's a misstep, when they do the wrong thing in the name of love — when all they really wanted to do was to help their child.

For all parents, there's a learning curve, he said. "At times in this film, you have the audience yelling at the father on the screen, saying, 'Don't do that!' But by the end, you recognize that he did it because he loved his kid so much. That's really the essence of this film."

His own son Dimitri loves the movie, Spiridakis said; he's also a fan of William Fitzgerald, who plays Ezra. "He thought he was incredible," he said.

Dimitri, he said, was recently honored in Los Angeles, his artwork on display at the Writers Guild of America, where he also attended a fundraiser for autism. Dimitri will also be in Greenport at the film's premiere on Friday.

"It's really kind of beautiful," Spiridakis said. "That kid — there are literally lines in this movie that come right out of Dimitri's mouth. I've never kidnapped him," he laughed. "But it is Dimitri's brilliant spirit that I tried to capture. His spirit, like so many other kids on the spectrum — we really have to let them be themselves. We can't try to force them to be something that they're not. There's this thing, autism, that makes them different. And there's so much beauty in that difference."

The film has helped bond him even more deeply with his own sons, Spiridakis said. "It makes me feel so close to Nikos and Dimitri," he said. "They got to see their dad make mistakes in their lives and not give up. Doing this movie really helped bring us closer — and I'm really proud of that."

He added, "I pray that this film will help other families."

"Ezra" opens nationwide Friday, May 31 with advance Thursday shows starting 4 p.m. in 1,309 locations in US and Canada. To view the trailer, click here.