Magnetosphere

Magnetosphere is a really delightful film. The characters are endearing, and the story beautifully captures the experiences of an adolescent girl with synesthesia. The use of colors and the unique way her perspective is portrayed are captivating. The film masterfully blends humor and poignancy, offering a heartwarming and uplifting message about embracing and celebrating differences. It normalizes what makes us unique and presents these traits as gifts. The story resonates with the universal challenges of adolescence while maintaining a light tone. The comedic timing was spot-on, with a mix of slapstick and wit that appeals to all ages. My little nephew loved it, and I think audiences of any age will too. The script was well-crafted, the performances were stellar, and the music added depth to the overall experience. Steven He was a pleasant surprise, delivering a performance with far more depth than I expected based on his online presence. It was also fantastic to see Colin Mochrie and other familiar faces from the comedy and improv world. Magnetosphere also handles sensitive themes with great care, making them relatable without being heavy-handed. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a funny and moving movie for all ages.

I enjoyed watching this - there is a lesson, and it made me tear up at the end. I'm 43 years old and I wish this type of film existed when I was little, although 43 is certainly not too old to watch it now. The kid actors in this film did a great job and I especially liked the youngest one (I think her name was Eedie but it's been a little bit since I've seen it so I could be wrong!). Anyway, I appreciate an alternative type movie that was thoughtfully made and this one fits the bill.

Through the well-executed film, Magnetosphere, I relived that most awkward period of life: adolescence. No longer a child, yet not an adult, with hormones running loose ... add to that a significant move to another town, a goofy father, classic class bullies, and a developing negative inner dialogue (in this case, in the form of a doll). Now, add to all of that experiencing life in a way that you know is different to other people, trying to hide it, wanting to express it, just wanting to be just like everyone else. And it is impossible to be just like everyone else. And add again to that first crush, first awkward moment with a friend ... and all of it carried off so well, so elegantly by protagonist Maggie. Even when she is grumpy she is delightful. There were several true laugh out loud moments, and many simply delightful moments, and a handful of cringeworthy memories were evoked. Magnetosphere is a safe place to relive that awkward adolescent time and to return whole.

Magnetosphere is a heartwarming and refreshingly original coming-of-age film that shines with emotional depth and vibrant imagination. Set in the late '90s, it follows 13-year-old Maggie Campion (a standout performance by Shayelin Martin), who discovers she has synesthesia-a rare neurological condition that lets her experience the world in vivid, multisensory ways.

Writer-director Nicola Rose blends comedy, nostalgia, and heartfelt drama into a rich story about self-acceptance, family, and the courage to stand out. The film captures the awkward beauty of adolescence with humor and heart, while also offering a thoughtful look at neurodiversity.

The supporting cast is a joy-Colie Mochrie is charming and eccentric as the local handyman Gil, Debra McGrath brings warmth as Maggie's teacher, and Patrick McKenna delights as her quirky theater-loving father. Jordyn Gillis is memorable as Jessica, the school's resident mean girl, whose actions challenge Maggie's resilience.

Visually playful and emotionally honest, Magnetosphere is more than just a coming-of-age story-it's a love letter to embracing what makes us unique. It's a must-see for anyone who's ever felt different, and a reminder that our quirks can be our greatest strengths.

Maggie is an awkward, melancholy thirteen-year-old girl whose family has just moved to a new town in Ontario in the middle of 1997. There she will face those universal moments of young life: middle school bullies, teenage insecurity and self-loathing, her first true friendship, and falling in love for the first time.

But her perceptions are far different than most people's. She lives in her own world of color, experiencing sounds and moods and people's energies as bright rainbows, gentle glowing, and gloomy clouds in her mirror. She's never heard of synesthesia and doesn't want anyone to know what she's seeing and feeling; there's enough scorn and absurdity around her without the humiliation of just how "weird" she is.

Nicola Rose has made a wonderfully gentle new kind of tale about growing up, with all its anguish and discovery literally colored by a remarkable perspective that's rarely talked about. It may not look like a big-budget Hollywood confection, but the production design, camera work, and vfx keep it vibrant. The story takes its time, getting by on real warmth and a great sense of humor from its eccentric characters (especially Colin Mochrie's wonderfully delusional exterminator who keeps barging in). The acting is excellent across the board, with Shayelin Martin a standout as our protagonist. It elicited laughter and tears from the audience in the theater, connecting with children *and* adults who are caught in a cycle of being painfully hard on themselves. Maggie may be confused by what she sees and feels, and even her eventual diagnosis as a synesthete won't make everything happy and easy, but she is coming closer to self-acceptance and appreciating the human connection she's finally found.

The title comes from a nickname bestowed by the young man Maggie's fallen for, an astronomy student who shares her fascination with the passing Hale-Bopp comet. Like the things she perceives and dwells on, it's a mysterious connection that feeds her soul and helps her emerge from the bubble of deep confusion and self-pity. It's a beautiful and kind movie without a trace of cynicism, something families can share and feel good about as they remember their own times of doubt, confusion, connection, and ultimately a new understanding of the strange and wonderful things that make us who we are.