When an anorexic cheerleader discovers she’s on the spectrum, she secretly joins an autism peer group and hides her diagnosis at school to keep her social status. But as her boyfriend’s manipulative behavior escalates, she must learn to be herself and embrace the help of her new neurodiverse friends.

SYNOPSIS:

BEHIND HER REFLECTION – Feature – Drama

COMPS: To the Bone - Girl, Interrupted – 13 Reasons Why

SYNOPSIS:

Behind her appearance of perfection, Naomi Perry desperately struggles in almost every area of her life. Not that high school is an easy time for anyone, but Naomi is faced with more than the usual concoction of self-discovery and social conformity. Every day is a monumental challenge for her to fit in and she’s destroying herself to do it. Of course, she does it well, so it seems. A cheerleader, “friends” with the popular girls, and soon to be the school’s homecoming queen.

But when her battle with anorexia leads her to collapse at cheerleading practice, she finds herself in the emergency room where her psychiatrist's keen observations offer a whole new explanation for Naomi’s behaviors and struggles. An evaluation confirms that she is autistic. Something no one had previously expected, not even Naomi.

Though her family is more than reluctant to accept the new diagnosis, Naomi sets out to explore what it means to her. Her therapist introduces her to an autism peer group that helps dispel the myths of autism and guides Naomi into understanding what it truly means to be on the spectrum.

At school, she keeps her diagnosis a secret, even from her boyfriend Greg. Her peers from the support group, who attended the same school, respect her wishes to keep her diagnosis private since they are well aware of how people look differently at those who are openly autistic.

One of those friends in group, Donovan, always has Naomi’s best interests in mind. His loyal friendship however attracts the ire of Naomi’s boyfriend Greg. So much so that he mercilessly bullies Donovan and, behind Naomi’s back, even attacks Donovan in the bathroom at school in just before the homecoming dance.

This sends Donovan into a rapid downward spiral, flashbacking to the days in elementary school when teachers and staff repeatedly used restrain and seclusion tactics on him. Overwhelmed and isolated, Donovan attempts to take his own life.

Meanwhile, at the dance, Naomi briefly breaks from her social elite friends to help Donovan's sister Cara as she has a meltdown. When driving Cara home, the two arrive to find Donovan passed out on the kitchen floor. Naomi makes the call to 911 and stays with Cara as they wait to find that Donovan will be alright.

This opens Naomi’s eyes to the true intentions of the people around her – as Donovan remarks, “One true friend is worth a thousand fake friends.” But it takes Naomi time to fully come to terms with that realization, especially when it comes to her relationship with Greg.

It’s not until she attends Greg’s party that she fully understands how aggressive and abusive he is to her. At this point, Greg confronts Naomi, attempting to force her into actions against her will. As it escalates Naomi becomes trapped and traumatized by Greg’s unrelenting assault. She reaches out to the one person she has left that she knows she can trust, Donovan.

Donovan and his understanding mother come to her rescue, bringing about the much-needed change in Naomi. Her parents finally commit to understanding their daughter’s needs, Greg swiftly faces justice for his actions, and Naomi is finally able to understand and be herself.