A young autistic man’s heartfelt letter to the beloved mother he lost

In this moving short documentary, Leymo Mohammed, a 20-year-old student, filmmaker and aspiring actor on the autism spectrum, writes a heartfelt letter to his mother who died of COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic. Narrating over animations and scenes from his life, Leymo updates his mother on the ups and downs of finding his place as a young Black man in Toronto. From the challenges of self-taping auditions and dealing with bullies, to looking after his sister, the importance of friends and the unexpected joy of attending prom, Leymo shares his story with openness, showing that he’s more than the labels so often imposed on him by the outside world. The Japanese Canadian filmmaker Randall Okita provides thoughtful direction to accompany Leymo’s writing and storytelling, allowing him to control his own narrative. The result is in an unusually original and touching coming-of-age story, dotted with poignant moments, that ultimately reflects its subject’s gentle spirit and optimism for the future.