Dina

Sweet without being sappy, the film extends an uncommon empathy to two characters that colder films (and, as we see, people) would treat as a punchline.

Dina is a story about resilience and a woman's indomitable will to seek out her best life.

There are moments of humour in a gently affecting story that celebrates the ordinariness of its subjects.

Co-directors Antonio Santini and Dan Sickles tell the story gracefully, doling out Dina's tragic backstory in excellent increments.

Even if approached with more than a few misgivings, "Dina" is valuable if only to offer viewers an honest, touching, ultimately optimistic portrait of people embracing intimacy and honesty the best way they know how.

Although there may be no fairy-tale endings, by the movie's end it's impossible not to wish one for Dina and Scott.

In addition to the great camerawork, I loved the filmmakers' dry, sardonic method of storytelling.

Dina is a welcome feature to the autism canon that takes an observational approach, avoiding a forced narrative about the diagnosis.

Dina is a reminder that those of us who consider ourselves "normal" go through life in constant performance mode, play-acting our ideal version of ourselves from moment to moment.

It's a rather remarkable feat.

Romance, no matter what your mental capacity, is something beautiful. It's also a necessity for a woman like Dina, who has every reason to be mad at the world, yet soldiers on fueled by the unwavering belief that love conquers all.

Overall, Dina is very well executed, though some audiences may find it a little too intimate for their own tastes.