When Time Got Louder – Canadian Film Fest 2023

A young woman has to choose between her new life in college and the well-being of her autistic brother in When Time Got Louder. Abbie Peterson (Willow Shields) has a very close relationship with her younger brother Kayden (Jonathan Simao), who has non-verbal autism. This causes a problem as Abbie leaves for college in California, and Kayden has trouble adapting under just the care of his parents, Tish (Elizabeth Mitchell) and Mark (Lochlyn Munro). Abbie finds love at school when she meets Carly (Ava Capri) at a party, but she soon fears that she may have to come home to help care for Kayden.

When Time Got Louder Synopsis

When Time Got Louder is a drama written and directed by Connie Cocchia starring Willow Shields (The Hunger Games) as Abbie Peterson, the closest person in the life of her autistic brother Kayden. Kayden doesn't adjust well to Abbie departing to California for school and his parents, played by Elizabeth Mitchell (LOST) and Lochlyn Munro (Riverdale), at one point consider sending Kayden to a group home. As Abbie explores her independence and sexuality in college, a horrible incident might forever change the family's plans.

My Thoughts on When Time Got Louder

When Time Got Louder simultaneously tries to be a very heavy melodrama about the struggles of raising someone with autism while also being a lesbian coming-of-age story, with these two sides often clashing with each other. While the ultimate message of the film is that autistic people deserve a chance, When Time Got Louder still features quite a bit of ableist dialogue and behaviour, including a very difficult-to-watch scene of assault. At least, When Time Got Louder had the good sense to cast someone on the autism spectrum as Kayden, albeit someone with Asperger's, as opposed to the full non-verbal autism depicted.

Trailer for When Time Got Louder – Canadian Film Fest 2023