The first surprise in the short documentary The Speed Cubers is that there are people – very young people – who can routinely solve a Rubik’s Cube in less than eight seconds. Then we’re not surprised that they have world records and world championship competitions.
But then we learn that an AUTISTIC teenager has been dominating the competition. And we learn the story of his parents’ love and persistence. And then the story of his relationship with the former champion he unseated. It all combines into a quick cinematic stir fry of profound decency and friendship.
Director Sue Kim distilled the world of speed cubers, the compelling personal stories of the two protagonists and their relationship into a tight forty minutes.
The Speed Cubers is streaming on Netflix.