A story centered around the most infamous day of the 21st century, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” is a heart wrenching and powerful movie about the human spirit and love between a father and son.

The story follows the life of nine year old, Oskar Schell, a boy living with autism. He is smart and curious with many reservations about the loud, intrusive, outside world. His father, Thomas Schell, played by actor Tom Hanks, tries to get Oskar to open up and explore the world in new ways. Along with his mother, Linda Schell, played by Sandra Bullock, the trio depict a happy family living in New York City.

When his father dies in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, Oskar tries to find a way to stay connected to his father not letting his memory fade. He finds a key and is adamant about finding the lock that it fits, convinced it is a sign from his late father. Oskar travels the streets of New York and searches for meaning in his father’s untimely death.

The movie is lengthy yet intriguing, and well worth spending $11.50 to see in theatres. It does drag at certain points, and a few resolutions could surface sooner in the film.

The acting is impeccable. Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock play the perfect couple. In the few scenes they film together, their chemistry is believable and endearing.

Supporting actors Zoe Caldwell as Oskar’s grandmother shines, and Max von Sydow as The Renter, has earned an Oscar nomination without even uttering a single word.

The true star of the film is Thomas Horn, who plays the key protagonist, Oskar Schell. In his first film, Thomas not only captured the emotions of a nine year old boy with autism, he brought the entire movie to life. Horn carries this story to fruition. His emotional outbursts are believable, and his eerie disconnect from the outside world is haunting.

The movie addresses powerful issues such as autism, death and extreme fear after Sept. 11. An important part of this movie was the setting in which it took place. The attacks on Sept. 11, are near and dear to the hearts of Americans and New Yorkers especially.

The film accurately captures the sadness and overwhelming fear the world felt at that time in 2001. Reliving the day that brought the United States to its knees can be tough to navigate in film, but the director handled it delicately, and not inappropriately.

The resolution was heart warming and the movie in its entirety reminds one of the impact a devastating event can have on a young child. ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’ is absolutely worth watching; if not for it’s impeccable acting, then for it’s emotionally charged message.