CECIL

Cinemavixion Review

This charming independent film, "Cecil," transports viewers back to 1996, a year of significant personal upheaval for its young protagonist. Fourth-grader Cecil Stevens, grappling with his parents' separation, faces the daunting prospect of a new school and the social anxieties that accompany it. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he befriends Abby, a spirited aspiring journalist who highlights his pronounced lisp as a significant obstacle. The film cleverly explores Cecil's attempts to overcome this perceived impediment, from adopting an English accent to embracing silence, before he and Abby embark on a more ambitious quest: renaming him entirely. Their decision to choose a moniker as legendary as Michael Jordan underscores the film's themes of identity, self-acceptance, and the creative solutions children devise to navigate complex emotional landscapes. While the director is not credited here, the performances, particularly from Sark Asadourian as Cecil, and the supporting cast including Jason London, Jenna von Oy, and Christa Beth Campbell, anchor this heartwarming narrative about finding one's voice, even if it requires a little creative re-branding.