Closing EIFF with a beguiling combination of warmth and intelligence, Adam is a delightfully sure-footed comedy drama from US director Max Mayer. The title character is a young New Yorker with Asperger's syndrome, a condition on the autism spectrum which entails a limited ability to empathise with others. His father recently dead, Adam (Hugh Dancy) is facing an uncertain future when he meets his new upstairs neighbour Beth (Rose Byrne). Reeling from a bad break-up and worried about impending legal action against her businessman dad (Peter Gallagher), Rose finds solace in the company of the gently reclusive Adam, and her friendly concern towards the young man gradually turns into something more intimate. Low on the intuitive emotional skills that come so naturally to most other romcom heroes, Adam must learn the rules of courtship as he and Rose begin tentatively dating. A fresh take on the romantic comedy, the film is a sympathetic and bracingly matter-of-fact depiction of living with Asperger's. Is Adam, whose existence has so far been governed by strict routine and loving support from his father, ready for the emotional demands of a new relationship? And how fully does Rose understand the challenges of dating someone like Adam? It’s a risk for both, and if the film celebrates the new experiences that Adam and Rose embark upon, it’s clear-eyed enough to know that it won’t be easy for either of them: like amateur astronomer Adam – who charms Rose with his home-made planetarium in one of the film’s lovely visual grace notes – the movie has its head tilted toward the stars, but its feet planted firmly on the ground. Unfurling with understated humour and resonant restraint, Adam is a film of delicate, offbeat charm that avoids sentimentality or mawkishness with deft assurance. At its centre are winning performances from its two leads. Australian actress Rose Byrne (28 Days Later) brings a tender charisma to the part of Rose; while British actor Hugh Dancy is utterly compelling as the shy, socially awkward Adam. A gem.