Santullo, Laura

A single mother in Texas faces off against the state when she refuses to medicate her son’s A.D.H.D.“The Other Tom” is a quiet film following a mother and son who say very little. Elena (Julia Chavez) struggles to raise her son, Tom (Israel Rodriguez), on her own and deal with his academic and behavioral challenges at school. Tom is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Elena dutifully administers his prescribed medication until an accident makes her question whether the side effects are worth the benefits. When child protective services steps in, she must decide for herself what is best for her son and whether to stand her ground.Set in El Paso, the story feels authentic and important, showing the surveillance and control that people living with the help of social services endure, as well as the way A.D.H.D. is misunderstood by uninformed teachers and parents. (Elena herself struggles with her son’s behavior, becoming impatient with what she perceives as defiance.) The film’s set and props feel true to the characters’ economic and social situation, down to Elena’s cracked phone screen or her improvised reading of a skin care routine from a magazine as a bedtime story. Elena provides what she can for Tom with her limited resources and defends him fiercely.But the film, directed by Laura Santullo and Rodrigo Plá, ultimately falls flat, with unconvincing dialogue and a strained delivery by the actors. Even during the most dramatic moments, there is little emotional range, and it’s difficult to become immersed or invested in Elena and Tom’s stories. Still, the film gets a lot right: The dynamic between them is typical of an overworked parent and a parentified child, with Elena speaking matter-of-factly — and sometimes crudely — to Tom. It’s a story not often seen on the big screen, and one that deserves to be told.The Other TomNot rated. Running time: 1 hour 51 minutes. In theaters. More