When I Got Jesus With a Slingshot

When I got Jesus with a slingshot ( Da jeg traff Jesus… med sprettert) is a charming coming of age tale from Norway. It feels very nostalgic and biographical at the same time as it is based on the memories of the famous Norwegian poet Odd Borresen.

The film is pleasant to watch – as it focuses on the experiences of a boy growing up in Mid’30s Norway . The tone is set from the very first scenes as the protagonist ( already grown up ) narrates the story of his youth :

“I believe that the day the clock on the wall stopped was the last day I lived in the world of my childhood.”

The protagonist himself is not indicated until the fifth minute when we see a boy sitting in the showers of his dad, watching the passing planes and thinking that he has the world of his childhood beneath him. That’s how the viewer is introduced to the little Oddeman (Fredrik Stenberg Ditlev-Simonsen), a bright young lad trying to make sense of the world and the words and actions of the older ones.

And as it usually happens while one of his brother’s friends dreams of growing up, Oddeman is willing to stay on his head in an attempt to prevent that same phenomenon. What follows next are some great scenes of the growing-up experience – including games in the fields, fear of the dark ( and noises from the attic ), and a winter expedition that nearly ends in disaster.

The film’s acting is quite acceptable – especially one of its young leads – Fredrik Stenberg Ditlev-Simonsen and Martin Eidissen. I would recommend “When I Got Jesus With a Slingshot” to everyone who would enjoy a trip back to his childhood. The tasteful humor in the film makes it a perfect flick for the whole family.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvceVI7HJ34

When I Got Jesus With a Slingshot was the Norwegian entry to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2001.

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This review would not have been possible without the valuable support of CVMC: The oldest movie rental service on the Internet — since 1998.

Carry Me Down by MJ Hyland

As soon as I finished the wonderful book by Robert McCammon Boy’s Life, I started looking for another similarly themed story, and that lead me to the discovery of “Carry Me Down” by M. J. Hyland.

While listening to it (Yes, I got the audio version.) I stumbled upon a great passage about the benefits of reading. :

“…Every school should have a library!

….yes, Sir, I say Yes, Mr. Rouch!

“No storybooks means no readying stories.

…yes, Sir, I say.”

No reading stories means no imagination. We all start life with imagination, of course. But without stories to feed it, the imagination, like a starved god, dies. And when the person does not read, and when a person has no imagination, they are sure to end up with no inventiveness of mind and spend the life with nothing but hackneyed warn out things to say—a life of slogans, jargon and cliches. A weak man repeats what he hears and makes himself dumb. . . and no imagination means that the only life you have been given, God knows looking around here I’d say some of you haven’t been given much of a life. ”

I believe that this short quote from the book is enough to raise your interest in it. I am glad that I have been reading a lot since I was around six. Both my teachers and parents have always encouraged this to be a habit of mine. I am positive that I would not have turned into the person I am if I haven’t read the books I have, the ones with adventures, Ancient Greece and Rome. The ones such as “Boy’s Life” and “Carry me down. “

And now to the story. The main character is John Egan, an imaginative and vulnerable 11-year-old who is on the edge of adolescence and learns about his new place in society the hard way. The story is narrated in the first person by the boy in a quite genuine manner, which soon makes you aware of John and his confused feelings, his parents, friends and relatives. One day John realizes that his father tells lies, and then things start to change for him. He decides that he possesses a weird gift detecting lies no matter how good the liar is and starts considering himself a ” Human lie detector.” He even starts writing a special book called “The Gol of Seil” and decided that the Guinness Book of World Records should be interested in his unusual gift.

While reading the book, you, like John, will discover a lot of things about Lies (I know I did) which would make you quite a good expert as well. John’s narration is very emotional and sincere, and I believe that every reader of the book will get attached to his story of growing up. Once he becomes a certain age, he believes that everything will change. That people treat him differently, and he struggles to discover the reasons for these changes.

As a chronicle of his coming of age experience, ” Carry me down ” is a great book as many youthful confusions are well described and analyzed. John wants to be different and unique. Don’t we all?

[pull_quote_right]I don’t see a point of living unless I could do something better than anyone else can. [/pull_quote_right]

A highly recommended by me, “Carry me down,” it is an engrossing story that at its heart examines an adolescent’s difficulties navigating the world.

PS: There is one very violent scene – around the beginning, which I found very tough. Also, since I listened to the audiobook, I would like to say that the narrator Gerard Doyle’s Irish accent fits perfectly into the story. He did an amazing job in transforming the words and emotions into spoken audio.

Carry Me Down by MJ Hyland Audio Review

Elie Dupuis

I have heard of Elie Deupis before, but a recent recommendation from a friend made me want to write an article about him. At the moment, I am listening to his song Band Band – recorded for the soundtrack of the French film ” Mommy is at the Hairdresser’s ” and am really struck by his voice and the emotions he delivers while singing. ( I am also trying to remember where I have heard that song before – it was another treble performer – but his name has slipt out of my mind ). ( another great performance of the song is the one of Nancy Sinatra – but I don`t have her in mind )

Listen Bang Bang performed by Elie Dupuis :

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJU_V3H4gcY

Elie’s family got a piano when he was 10 years old. After only two years of practice, he sent a demo to a Canadian program called La Fureur. Because of his appearance on La Fureur, he was chosen for one of the main roles for the film Maman est chez le Coiffeur (2008), where he shows off his musical skills.

In 2007, he was invited to Telethon Operation Enfant Soleil, where he met Annie Villeneuve, who will give him his first song. He will join on stage Charlemagne in a duo.

He performs regularly on the stage of Théâtre Hector-Charland, among others the benefit of the Fondation des Auberges du Heart, an organization that hosts youth homelessness or experiencing difficulties.

Elijah said he was “delighted” to live this experience with professionals who, like him, “vibrate for art.

The Blog of Elie at SkyRock

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMn6JY80xDU

Do you like the music of Elie Dupuis? Do you know something more about him – not listed there? I was hoping you could send me a comment or a message @skykid (on Twitter )

Amazing child singer : Brendan MacFarlane

Ever since I mentioned Brendan Macfarlane – his name frequently appeared in the search string people type to land on TheSkyKid.com. Recently I have noted an increasing trend in that which could indicate only one thing – he is becoming more and more popular, and people want to know, hear and see more of him. I tried to get some information from his cousin and his dad – but for some reason, the replays are yet to come. Bestpi – who writes much better about music than I would ever be able to – expects an answer from Brendon`s dad …

Recently Tommy contacted me via the contact form of the blog to ask if Brendan MacFarlane has his own CD out – but my answer is – nope, Tommy – not that I know of. With all that hype about Brendon, I could not see a better moment for that – and as everyone appreciates music, I am awaiting for such a thing to happen.

The latest information I have from him – is from January 27, 2009 – and was published in a blog called Letters From Cloverdale – in it, Victor wrote :

“He enjoys singing. His favourite country artist is Hank Williams. Brendan usually sings every other Wednesday for Open Microphone Night if his mother gives permission. That permission depends on the following:

His Homework is done.
His Chores are finished.
He hasn’t fought with his brothers and sisters.
He practiced the piano a full 30 minutes.“

Source

15.11.2009 Update: Exclusive interview of Brendan Macfarlane for theskykid.com

Pop Art – a short film starring Bill Milner

Pop Art

Country: U.K.
Language: English
Genre: Family/Drama/Fantasy
Director: Amanda Boyle
Actors: Bill Milner as Toby
Duncan Clark as William Spears
a.o.
Runtime: 15 min.

Pop Art is rather abstract and symbolic movie. In it Bill Milner plays the role of the 12 years old Toby who befriends an inflatable boy. One is to do some thinking to recognize the metaphor – but I am sure that many of you either know or could recognize that inflatable boy in your own self’s . The films deals with the serious topic of grieving – as Toby`s mom died a year ago , but his dad just could not move on – and neither do Toby . Would his new friend help him – would Toby help his new friend when he gets bullied at school ?

The film got screened at the Birds Eye View Film Festival ( 2009 ) and I could not agree more with its director Amanda Boyle who said about the young star in her film :

“Bill Milner in Pop Art is already a British film star who has an exciting career ahead of him.”

Head over to the PS : The picture was shot with a Sony HDW-F900 camcorder

PSS : I was pleasantly surprised to see Bill in a new light – a bit tougher then in his last films .

http://youtu.be/ZK8IsgdGVh0

En som Hodder : Someone Like Hodder (2003)

Someone like Hodder is a Danish film based on the book with the same name written by Bjarne Reuter . If you want to see an lively and uplifting family film – pick Hodder and let him show you what the dreams can do !

The main character in the film is the 9 years old Hodder (Frederik Christian Johansen) who lives alone with his father in a suburban neighborhood of Copenhagen . Hodder`s Dad hangs poster at night which leaves him little time to spend with his son.

The classmates of Hodder are rather mean to him and blame him . In his own words :

“It’s like that in any class.One person always gets the blame.In my class….it happens to be… me.”

Yet Hodder don`t think bad of those teases – he seems to ignore than and still adire his classmates impervious to their grating rejection.

One night, a fairy appears to Hodder. She tells him that he is ” the chosen one” who must save the world . Quite a handy task for a young boy. At first he tries to decline the responsibility saying to the fairy :

“But I live on my own with dad.Ask Filip from school instead.He’s much stronger than me.And he’s got a dad and a mum.”

Yet the fairy only confirms that it is him who would have to save the world the flies away . Hodder is confused – he tells about that night at school ,but naturally no-one believes his words .Next he shares with his his father and a woman at the bakery about the his new tasks – his father is not of much help – but he said that it it was him he would have launched an expedition , the woman the bakery suggest that he should ” start small” . Hobber takes their advices literally and soon discoverers Guambilua – the smallest island in the world located somewhere close to Afrika . What reminds for him is to form a team of people who can help him to launch en Expedition and save the people at Guambilua.

We see the world through the boy’s eyes – and probably that is why the narrative storytelling in the film seem so intriguing . The casting is excellent and once again I amazed astonished by the pure talent of someone who makes a debut a film production – Frederik Christian Johansen whose performance as ‘Hodder’ is flawless . He looks and acts a bit like my younger cousin – and probably the fact that I know someone in person who is quite similar made the acting performance of Frederik so authentic and convincing .

The cinematography in the film was well done to reflect the film`s theme . In many of the scenes the camera was positioned low and behind the boy, and the reaction shots of the boy sensitive and compassionate. Frequently close ups of the boy’s face make the viewers fall for him and his world of imagination . In additional the director of photography crated some amazing scenes matching background with the eye colour of Hodder – which is a definite indication of a good directing .

Despite the main focus of the Someone Like Hodder lies in the power of a fantasy – various advance themes such as loss, loneliness, and bereavement are enriching its plot. The film is perfect for a younger audience as it teaches that people should trust in themselves , because they could achieve things – no one could have dreamt of …

At the end of the review I would like to share with you a quote from the 10 year old Dorian Brunz who summarized her opinion on the film like that :

” This is a film, which one has to ponder a lot at home. It shows not only the Beauty of life, but also many Sadnesses. The more I think about this film, the more beautiful I find it.” ( source )

“The jury of the International Federation of Film Societies (FICC) has decided to give the ‘Don Quijote’ award to a film that opens a door to the world of a child. It shows how great children can be, what imagination they can have and what strength they can develop. When seeing this film we meet different persons: Lola, the lady on the street, the boxer Johnson, the lady in the bakery, the angel and above all the father. All of them have their special relationship with Hodder. which makes this film many sided. This film is well planned and well played.” (FICC-Jury at Zlin-Festival )

If you have seen the film don`t hesitate to share your own impressions using the comment form below :

The art of Pierre Joubert

Not long ago, I introduced you to the art of Norman Rockwell. Today, I would like to introduce another famous illustrator – Pierre Joubert. He was born in Paris on 27 June 1910 and achieved a worldwide fame thanks to his drawings, published in hundreds of magazines and adventure novels across the globe. When young he was a Boy Scout himself, and his drawings focus exclusively on the Scout movement in which he achieved the rank of Patrol Leader. His talent was first recognized by the National Scout Movement of France who who invited him to draw for its magazine . It was Joubert who, in 1940, redesigned the current badge, Scouts de France.

When I was about 10 – my teacher’s son gave me an amazing gift. In fact, it was really two gifts – the very first skateboard of my life and his entire collection of illustrated magazines he had collected over the years. It was a big and very valuable collection of magazines, the first issue of which had been published back in 1979. Nowadays, copies of this magazine are extremely hard to find even on the market for collector’s items.

I still remember the countless hours I spent over them, imagining all sorts of adventures. The heroes from the pages came to life in my dreams. Thanks to the art of Pierre Joubert I remembered those wonderful times. Joubert has been recognized in the arts as “the illustrator of adolescence of the 20th century”. He was 91 when he died on 14 January 2002. His art, however, will live forever!

the illustrator of adolescence of the 20th century

Let the Right One In (2008)

Some say that ” Let the right one in ” is the best Vampire movie. I am not so sure about that – as Interview with Vampire seemed to be a bit better. But if you call ” Let the right one in ” – the best coming of age vampire film, then you will be right – because that it is.

Let the right one in is a Swedish movie. It is based on the novel by John Ajvide Linqvist with the same name. As with most Scandinavian flicks, the film feels different – thanks to its brilliant directing by Tomas Alfredson. The movie is next to perfect, and I completely understand why its director is not happy with the feature English version remake. I stand behind his opinion as foreign movies – are best in their original, and a Hollywood remake would ruin an otherwise great plot.

The story in the film focuses on the 12-year-old Oskar ( Kåre Hedebrant) and his friendship with Eli – a girl who turns out to be a vampire. Of course, friendship is just one of the values integrated into the story – others such as bravery, love and loyalty- and understanding of the others are in abundance and contribute to the coming of age value of the film.

The casting in the film was excellent. Definitely, most attention deserves the young starts: Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson. For their performance in Let the right one in – both actors were nominated for best performance in an international feature film in the 30th Annual Young Artist awards. Lina played the role of the child vampire Eli, who befriends the main character ( Oskar ). Interestingly, the film’s director decided to overdub her voice to sound less feminine and vampire-like. ( source) Justin Lowe wrote an excellent description of her performance in his film review: ” Leandersson is particularly impressive as the conflicted young vampire who wants nothing more than to be an ordinary girl again“. While watching the film, I felt mixed feelings about Eli – a 200-year-old vampire trapped as an adolescent. In one of the scenes, she says, “I am 12, but I have been 12 for a long time “. So for her, the coming of age period is eternity …

Kåre Hedebrant, for his part, was more than convincing in his role of a lonely, withdrawn and sensitive boy. I was the first strike, but his look – and in the first scenes of the movies, I was expecting that we would turn out to be a vampire – he had that special aura – which can give you the creeps. He showed an amazing understanding of his role – a challenging thing to do – imagine yourself falling in love with a girl who turns out to be a Vampire.

Few more words about the directing – while watching the film, I noticed a technique that I have seen in Ivan Noel`s En Tu Ausencia – in one of the Scenes, Oscar was shown in the bathroom with his childhood toys around him. He ignored them – which symbolised his transformation into a changed person, more mature – seeing the world with a different eye. This happened right after he realises the true nature of Eli. Another excellent choice in directing the movie was the usage of snowy scenes/backdrops in the film. Snow that symbolises silence and remorse. Snow that can fall and hide the bloody leftovers of the vampires – while being deathly at the same time, especially if someone quietly longs for death. According to an article in The Los Angeles Times, the Swedish director found inspiration in Renaissance paintings – which probably is why the characters in the movie have such a unique appearance on the screen. Below are the two paintings he referred to as most inspiring :

.

Let the Right One In the trailer

All photos below are courtesy of Magnet Releasing.

Quotes from the film :

“Hit harder than you there, then they will stop.”

” I will be you, and you will be me.”

Let the Right One In (2008)

In short

Let the Right One In is a Swedish vampire movie about a bullied, 12-year-old boy who befriends a centuries-old vampire girl who lives next door to him.

5

Our rating

Coming of age films – definition

Coming of age films-how can they be defined? What kind of movies are classified as coming of age ?

I have been asked this question almost every time I am discussing theSkyKid.com with friends and partners . There are several definitions available online such as the one that is listed on my movie list page :

“Coming of age movie is a movie where the central plot revolves around a person suddenly facing a life changing experience, trial or tribualtion.That person once was naive or childish or pre-pubescent is now suddenly older and wiser because of the experience. They see life and their place in the universe for the first time.“

Another excellent defenition was given by the Savvy Savage in her blog “ The Story line review ” :

“…Basically, the story features at least one adolescent main character and follows his/her life experiences up to and sometimes through adulthood. It often emphasizes the lessons the character learned that contributed to his/her personal growth that is exhibited in the story…“

Just today I asked this question on Twitter and received another excellent defenition from Mark , acording to him a coming of age is movie is :

” A film that focuses on the psychosocial development of a youth and it often involves great conflict and transformation“

Of course when trying to define a term Wikipedia is another excellent resource one should check. Accoring to it :

“The term coming of age is also used in reference to different media such as stories, songs, movies, etc. that have a young character or characters who, by the end of the story, have developed in some way, through the undertaking of responsibility, or by learning a lesson ” ( source )

I would like to share with you a favorite defenition of the coming of age films given by Walter Chaw in his review of ” Mean Creek ” :

“…a coming-of-age film finds poetry in the struggle to evolve even while the rest world is falling down…“

Walter seems to be an expert on the subject as he wrote another article on it for the Time Out New York where he described a pleasurable template for the coming of age films as :

“An adolescent (or group thereof) goes through a challenging series of bittersweet experiences. He’s forced to put away childish things, emerging a little bruised, sadder but wiser, and more prepared for the travails of adulthood.”

Last but not least I would quote Howard Creech who published an article at Epinions.com titled ” Rite of Passage the 10 best Coming of Age movies” :

” All Coming of Age films share certain thematic similarities the most basic of which is their strong focus on stories of young people on the edge of maturity. There are other important themes that define coming of age including the death of a loved one, falling in love for the first time, and high school graduation. Good coming of age films frequently deal with controversial topics such as sexuality, loss of virginity, or leaving home for the first time but they are rarely exploitative. Rite of passage films are often sentimental and they usually appeal to the emotions, but the good ones never play on the prurient. Generally the adolescent characters are forced to make a decision, the outcome of which will have a significant and life shaping impact on their futures. “

When I started reviewing movies I decided that I should focus on coming of age films as I felt more connected with them than with those in any other genre. Often things that happened to the characters on screen reminded me of events and people from my own experience – which influences the reviews you are seeing at theskykid.com. The variety in the coming of age genre is quite notable – there are comedies , dramas , documentaries …etc . Some people even argue that the coming out films are sub – genre of the coming of age one . Generally there is at least one – good coming of age film that you would be able to relate to your own experience.

The coming of age films have been discuses in various topics in this blog – notable examples are :

“ Coming of age films Boy`s or Girl`s thing “

and

” Best coming of age movies made for TV“

What is your own definition of a coming of age film ? You can live me a comment in here or send me a replay @skykid in Twitter .

MY DOG SKIP (2000) ****1/2 movie review by THE SMALL TOWN CRITIC

Hi, folks! Gracias to SkyKid for giving me the chance to write a guest review. I’m Coop from Smalltowncritic.com and I decided to pull out one of my first reviews which also happens to be one of my favorite coming of age films. “My Dog Skip” is near and dear to my heart because it depicts life and growing up in Mississippi (my home state) accurately and thoughtfully. Enjoy!

Everyone remembers their childhood dogs and the impact they’ve had on their life. Perhaps one dog in particular sticks out in your mind… A special dog that was there for you in the toughest or best years of your life. That is what this screen adaptation of Willie Morris’ “My Dog Skip” conveys in a fun, nostalgic and heartbreaking kind of way. Morris, recounts the autobiographical memoir of his childhood in Yazoo City, Mississippi and the four-legged friend that accompanied him on his journey into manhood.

Set in the backdrop of the war-torn world of the 1940’s, young Willie (Frankie Muniz) is on the verge of his ninth birthday. His only real friend, neighbor and high school sports hero, Dink Jenkins (Luke Wilson) leaves to go off and fight in WWII, leaving Willie feeling alone in the world. To lift Willie’s spirits, his mother (Diane Lane) decides to defy the wishes of his stern father (Kevin Bacon) and buy Willie a Jack Russell terrier puppy. The unusually smart and charismatic dog, Skip, quickly becomes a local institution and helps Willie gain respect, make friends and even win over his first girlfriend.

There are a few subplots, that help the story along nicely. One involves Dink Jenkins who leaves town a hero and returns from the war in disgrace and a drunk after going AWOL in battle. Another involves Willie’s father, a shell-shocked, Spanish Civil War veteran, who overprotects and underestimates his bookish son. It’s through Willie’s relationship to Skip that inspires these too men heal their wounds. One subplot that didn’t seem to hold as much water is one involving two moonshine dealers who put Willie and Skip’s lives in danger on more than one occasion. This appeared to be a fictional device similar to something out of Huckleberry Finn and seemed a bit cartoonish, but it’s a minor detail in what turned out to be a simple, yet moving story.

The young Morris is outstandingly played by Frankie Muniz, now a household name due to his success on TV’s “Malcolm in the Middle.” His acting is very mature and shows shades of emotions very effectively. Both Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane do decent jobs of portraying caring and concerned parents. Luke Wilson exceeds his normal comedy boundaries and pulls off the disgraced town hero with surprising effectiveness. However it’s the dog that steals the show… or should I say dogs. “Moose” (Eddie from TV’s Frasier) and his son “Enzo” play the older and younger Skip respectively. Look for them in more movies, commercials and TV shows to come. I guarantee you’ll see them.

Director/Executive Producer Jay Russell pulls off an impressive effort being that this is only his second feature film. His first effort was the little-seen, independent film “End of the Line” in which he also worked with Kevin Bacon. Russell, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, insisted on shooting “Skip” entirely in Mississippi. He and his producers chose the town of Canton, which is also where the screen adaptation of John Grisham’s “A Time To Kill.” The spectacular photography of the town and the surrounding rural areas resulted in some of the most colorful and verdant footage of the state I have ever seen.

The message of this film is very clear and invokes plenty of nostalgia to anyone who can identify growing up in a rural town. It’s about passing into adulthood, remembering old friends long gone, and the desire to remember or relive happy moments in our lives that may be fading from our memory. Morris is certainly a master at preserving his own memories by writing it down for others to enjoy. I truly believe that this story is his gift, not only to the people of Mississippi, but to all who want to remember their past, and the friends they left behind.

This movie is PG, a rating which might run off some of the older crowd, but it’s truly a movie for everyone. Most films geared for children these days depend on lame, pop-culture references and gas-passing jokes in a patronizing attempt to entertain the younger masses. This movie rises above all of that to become one of the most watchable non-Disney film for children since 1993’s “Searching for Bobby Fischer.”

Scale of 1-5:
4 ½

Most refreshing aspect of the movie:
The entire production was shot so effectively that it seemed that it genuinely conveyed feeling of growing up in rural Mississippi. The attention to detail and the accuracy of the time period are phenomenal. I felt completely immersed in this world and felt the full effect of this moving story. Even the southern accents were much better than average.

Biggest gripe:
Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane’s characters were strong, but didn’t get enough screentime to fully develop. Willie’s friendship with a young black boy was never given a chance to develop either, probably in an effort by the filmmakers to avoid focusing on the segregation issues of the time period. The issue is addressed, but I feel that the African-American characters should have had bigger, more substantial parts.

Biggest surprise:
The character of “Skip” and the dogs that played him. They were so likeable and effective in this film that the personality of Skip was the most developed of all the characters. I congratulate the animal trainers in this film for teaching these dogs to do seemingly impossible feats.

-Coop

Come by and visit!

Frantsuz

Russian directors never disappointed me when it comes to directing a good coming-of-age drama. Galina Daneliya-Yurkova left her distinctive mark on Frantsuz – creating a real cinematic experience for its viewers.

Frantsuz is one of those films I had heard a lot before I got a chance to watch it. The film is an adaptation of the novel ” Waiting for a Goat ” ( “V ozhidanii kozy“) written by Yevgeni Dubrovin – one of the best novelists in Russian literature. The story is set in the post-military town in the Soviet Union. Victor,12 and Vlad,7 are two free-spirited brothers who live alone with their mother. The father has been gone for many years and they have been told by their mother that died at the front defending their homeland. He has been described by her as “a very strong man with an iron character who worked as a blacksmith”

One night their father shows up. It turns out that he had been imprisoned in France during the war. He immediately starts his efforts to establish his fatherly authority seeing that his sons are being spoiled by their mother – the boys however earnestly counterbalance them. It comes to no surprise as his views of responsibility and discipline involve frequent whippings – he wants to make them hard-working and responsible – but Vlad and Victor and not too happy with the new arrangements :

” Forced labor, – I said – is widely used in ancient Romans and Greeks. It was called slavery. But in the future humanity knowingly waived it, as slave labor was a non-reliatively difficult to free man.
The phrase turned out to be very beautiful. My father even stopped to eat.
Well enough! – Father slapped a hand across the table. – Maybe so, but you should listen to your parents “

The brothers get a supporter in the face of their uncle who also returns from captivity. He convinces a Jewish chemist who liked his sister to make her a marriage proposal even if it is known that her husband is alive and is at home.

Frantsuz is a movie that can teach its viewers a lot of things. As you watch it you will gain the understanding that The relationship between children and parents should be built on the principles of equality and mutual respect.

The acting in the film was good – and aside from the very young protagonists Yuri Zvyagintsev and Aleksandr Biryukov I enjoyed the performance of Sergei Shakurov in the role of the father. He was very convincible in the role of strict father which almost made me want to join the pact of the boys ( myself being spoiled as well ) .

Frantsuz like many other Russian films from that time was slightly military-themed – which only made it more enjoyable to watch. A similar movie is The Return ( original name Vozvrashcheniye) which can be summarized as ” The plot seems simple at first- two boys meet their father for the first time after 12 years absence ” – if interested you can read its review which I wrote about a year ago at theskykid.com . Both films get a high recommendation from me and I would be thankful if you share your views on them in the comments below!

The book “V ozhidanii kozy” is available for free at Lib.ru

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This review would have not been possible without the valuable support of CVMC: The oldest movie rental service on the Internet — since 1998. Specializing in hard-to-find & rare films from around the world. I would like to thank them for supporting theSkyKid.com by providing the DVD of Frantsuz. Check out the film`s page site at the CVMC.net

Ready? OK! (2008)

Ready? OK! is a fun and inspirational film. I enjoyed watching it as the film has influences from two of my favorite films: Billy Elliot and But I Am A Cheerleader. This movie follows the adventures of 10-year-old (almost 11) Josh Dowd (Lurie Poston), an energetic young boy studying in a rather strict private religious school and is on its wrestling team. But Josh is not that interested in wrestling. He would like to join the school’s cheerleader team and wears a homemade button on which is the face of his favorite varsity wrestler.

School officials disapprove of Josh’s attempts to join the cheerleader team. He is told to ” forget all hopes that he would ever join the team.” But then, as the movie continues, the viewer sees how cheerful the young boy is as he doesn’t give up hope. He says, “Hey! I’m not trying to break the rules – but change them!”. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more people had his attitude?

The character development in the film is quite well accomplished, as we gradually learn a lot of new things about Josh, his mom, uncle, and even his “artistic” neighbor. Carrie Preston plays the challenging role of the overworked mom, who doesn’t have time for her son. She worries that she might have trouble at her job as people could decide that she is not “what they are looking for”. She also frets that her expectations for her son are not being fulfilled, and her confusion makes her admit that she doesn’t know what to do…or say about him. That is until she is told by their neighbor that, to him, “Josh is one of the smartest, funniest, most sensitive little boys he has ever had a pleasure of knowing” and that she is missing an amazing opportunity of being there for him, helping him to be himself – not what others are expecting him to be.

Is Josh in troble ? — **Is Josh in trouble?**

My own experience with cheerleaders is from the time I was studying in the US. That’s the very first time I saw cheerleading teams, and the team at our school was the bomb ( I had a bit of a crush on one of the girls on the team ). And we also had our own Josh (of course, his name was different), the only boy on the cheerleading team. And, yes, like the boy in the movie, he got teased for it. I have to admit that I admired him, as sometimes it takes some guts to stand up for yourself and do what you like to be doing.

While Ready? OK! was created to be more funny and entertaining than serious. I believe that many will discover something of themselves in the film. Family, acceptance, determination, and love are all mixed in 91 minutes, which I believe you’ll find quite enjoyable.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rabQrSlSdGQ

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