By John Corrado

The 2024 Hot Docs Film Festival ran from April 25th to May 5th in Toronto

This is Going to Be Big is a very heartwarming and inspiring documentary that follows a group of neurodiverse high schoolers in Australia preparing for a school play, and is refreshingly told from the perspectives of the students themselves.

Every two years, the students at a specialized school for people with disabilities in Victoria perform an elaborate play, which takes months of planning and casting. Their latest production is a time-travelling tribute to Australian singer John Farnham that will see different students playing him in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Director Thomas Charles Hyland, who worked with the subjects through a collaborative process, follows a quartet of students over the several months leading up to the play.

Halle is on the autism spectrum, and wants to take on the role of Farnham to perform his hit song “You’re the Voice” in honour of her late aunt. Josh, who is also autistic, is excited to perform, but his real dream is to join the airforce. For Elyse, who has seizures and severe anxiety, made worse by the bullying she faced at her old school, the show is about becoming more confident. Chelsea, who has an acquired brain injury after being hit by a car as a child, is a natural star seeking her time in the spotlight.

The teachers provide support and direction when needed, but don’t take over. Hyland himself stays behind the camera, crafting a vérité portrait that takes us into the lives of the students, charting the hurdles they face (and overcome) in the months and weeks before taking the stage. It’s wonderful to watch the self-confidence they gain through the entire process.

Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)

This is Going to Be Big screened as part of the 2024 Hot Docs Film Festival.