This one is tricky. Although it was on the list of the movies for teens, with all the kids stuff and playful melodies I would think twice and still wouldn't show it to my children. I'm not ready yet. BUT I would recommend it to all the parents as a MUST SEE. There are serious topics and adult themes mentioned that are either for the grown mind or should be carefully and thoughtfully explained to your children if you think you're both ready for this kind of conversation.
1. Don't judge the book by it's cover. It's even more complicated with people. And please be really careful when you project your vision of the world and/or people to your kids. Sometimes they know better if you let them.
2. "Adults should be trusted. They never lie. Never. And still, where children learn to lie?" And we are never wrong, I must add. It's a good thing some are wise enough to see the truth presented to them and find the strength to admit they were wrong in the first place.
3. "Sometimes you don't want to grow up" It's even sadder when a childhood is taken from you too early. The bright side is you have to learn your life lessons sooner and faster. Or is it?
4. Children are watching us and, believe me, they see everything, don't try to fool them. They are our mirrors. Games they play show us our twisted reality. There is an episode with a little girl whose perception of the family is changed forever by the absence of the father in her life. Not to mention the main character Vit'ka.
5. This one striked me the most. Kids, labor and money. It might sound outdated, too soviet or socialistic, but I assure you it has something to think about. Somewhere on the way manual labor became shameful, not cool or prestige enough. We don't want to see our kids cleaning the yard or repairing shoes. We better give our children money for nothing. No surprise that in the end they have no respect nor interest for labor they know nothing of, easy money they didn't earn, and the feeding hand. That's us.
All of this is mentioned more for myself, 'cause it may be all too obvious, but maybe one day when I'll be ready I'll use this review as a plan for the big talk about life with my children. For now I'll make sure to recommend this movie to my wife.
