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Drama

X+Y (2014): Cast & Plot

X+Y (2014) movie poster

X+Y is a 2014 drama directed by Morgan Matthews, starring Asa Butterfield as Nathan Ellis, Martin McCann and Sally Hawkins. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes.

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X+Y (2014) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 51m (111 min)
Director
Morgan Matthews
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Studio
Original Pictures
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is X+Y About?

The premise of X+Y without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A socially awkward teenage math prodigy gains confidence and forges new friendships after being selected for the British team competing at the International Mathematics Olympiad. He discovers that true brilliance extends beyond numbers, requiring an open heart and connection with others.

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Cast & crew

X+Y Cast & Characters

Asa Butterfield leads the cast as Nathan Ellis, with Martin McCann as Michael Ellis and Sally Hawkins as Julie Ellis. Directed by Morgan Matthews; 25 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in X+Y

· 21 more
Show all 25 cast members
From the director

More from Morgan Matthews

More films directed by Morgan Matthews, best-rated first: A Brilliant Young Mind, Railway Children and Britain in a Day.

Full filmography
Plot

X+Y Plot Summary

What happens in X+Y from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Nathan Ellis, a 9-year-old maths prodigy, Asa Butterfield has just lost his father in a car accident. He is soon diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, and while he values his mother, Julie Ellis, Sally Hawkins, he keeps physical contact to a minimum, treating her more as a caregiver than a parent. To keep him focused on his studies, Julie enrolls him in advanced classes at a new school filmed at High Storrs School in Sheffield, United Kingdom. There, he comes under the tutelage of a maths genius, Martin Humphreys, who has multiple sclerosis. Rafe Spall portrays a mentor who sees himself in Nathan—once a rising mind in mathematics who gave it all up when illness struck.

Full summary

The whole story of X+Y, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

X+Y Videos

8 videos: 8 featurettes.

All 8 videos
Asa Butterfield and Sally Hawkins on X+Y | BFI #LFF
  • Featurette Asa Butterfield on stage presenting X+Y | BFI #LFF
  • Featurette Asa Butterfield Interview
  • Featurette Morgan Matthews Interview
  • Featurette Rafe Spall Interview
Quiz

How Well Do You Know X+Y?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What subject does the main character excel in?
Cars

Cars in X+Y

19 cars on screen, including the 2006 Volkswagen Polo IV Typ 9N2 and the 1999 Ford Focus MkI.

All 19 cars
  • 2006 Volkswagen Polo IV Typ 9N2 in X+Y 2006 Volkswagen Polo IV Typ 9N2 Important role
  • 1999 Ford Focus MkI in X+Y 1999 Ford Focus MkI Minor role
  • 2000 Ford Transit MkIV in X+Y 2000 Ford Transit MkIV Minor role
  • 2009 King Long XMQ 6858 in X+Y 2009 King Long XMQ 6858 Minor role
Details

X+Y Also Known As

15 alternative titles, including “A Brilliant Young Mind” and “X Plus Y”.

Also known as
  • A Brilliant Young Mind
  • X Plus Y
  • X+Y A Brilliant Young Mind
  • Le Monde de Nathan
  • X加Y
  • 네이든
  • Mästerskapet
  • הצעיר המבריק
  • Egy ragyogó fiatal elme
  • 僕と世界の方程式
  • X+Y 愛的方程式
  • 數造天才
+3 more
  • عقل صغير عبقري
  • เธอ+ฉัน=เรา
  • Genijalni mladi um

Seen X+Y?
FAQ

X+Y FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of X+Y, each answered in a sentence.

How long is X+Y?

X+Y runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).

When was X+Y released?

X+Y was released on March 13, 2014.

Who directed X+Y?

X+Y was directed by Morgan Matthews.

More films by Morgan Matthews

Who is in the cast of X+Y?

X+Y stars Asa Butterfield as Nathan Ellis, Martin McCann as Michael Ellis and Sally Hawkins as Julie Ellis, among 25 credited actors.

Does X+Y have a post-credit scene?

No. X+Y has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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