An Interview With Filmmaker Reshan Fernando

As the largest online media that exclusively focuses on Coming-of-Age movies, we have always striven to provide our readers with an opportunity to get to know the filmmakers and actors of the films featured on the site. Today we would like to present for your attention an interview with Reshan Fernando – an aspiring young filmmaker from Paris, France. Many of Reshan’s movies focus on kids and their life stories.

Tell us a little about yourself: name, occupation, current projects, etc.

Hello, My Name is Reshan Fernando, I’m a movie maker, film director, script writer, visual effects supervisor and also owner of Silent Entertainment Productions in Paris. My new music video, about to be released, is called Got U & Peace.

How did you get involved in film?

I came into this industry as an actor when I was 13-years-old. That happened accidentally after one of my father’s friends came to my birthday party. He’s a make-up artist for big productions in Sri Lanka.

After he saw me, he suggested that my father have me try out as an actor for an on-going television drama show. So when my father asked me if I was interested, I told him “Yes, why not! let’s try it.” And my father’s friend told me that the director had explained to him about this new character in the show and it seemed a great match for me.

The next day I went to the casting office with my mom and we met the director and his assistant and they ended up choosing me for the role. I was so happy. I got a bit popular from working on that show and began to be recognized. The drama professor at my school saw it and persuaded me to act in the school’s stage dramas. I learned a lot about acting there.

I also got a chance to perform in some folk music shows in Sri Lanka and learned more about the performing arts with them.

After all of this, I thought I wanted to do something bigger and better. So I started to make my own short film. My parents agreed to provide some money to support that. That’s how I did my first short film Pitastharaya in 2006. Later I made Magic Stone in 2007, which made the top 50 short films list in Sri Lanka in 2008.

I wanted to formalize my knowledge of filmmaking by doing some formal training in film Directing, which I did at the International Film School in Paris. As a last project of my studies, I made the short film Dream in 2009. I got the highest mark in the institute and I received a diploma for the program, again, with the highest rank.

I also made the short film May 20th in 2009 with my friends as my crew, telling them what to do & how to do it. They did an amazing job. My father was the producer and my mom also worked on the production. We got well known, popular and very talented actors and we introduced a new child actor. Upon its completion, we sent it to different festivals around the world, and it was an official selection of the International Hollywood Student Film Festival in 2009.

Focus on Childhood

The SkyKid.com has its own unique niche – Coming-of-Age films and stories promoting young talent in Music and the Arts. You also make mainly movies about kids and their life stories. Why children? Why not focus on issues people face in adulthood?

I like to talk about kids life stories in my productions because I think childhood is the most important age of a human’s lifetime. Also, while there are many films being made around the world about adult problems/issues, we don’t see films focusing on childrens issues/challenges as much.

The idea is to have my films talk to adults through kids. They give a message to both kids and adults. Kids don’t have the power to find a solution to their problems alone. Hopefully the messages in my films, shown to adults, parents, and different communities, will make a difference, because kids are our next generation and they’ll be making the decisions as adults about our world in the future.

But my work isn’t only about kids and their life stories. I’m doing other productions through my company as well that are centered on adult themes (i.e. music videos, commercials, events etc.).

Spreading a Message

The theme of your 2009 short film May 20th is quite controversial. Some people take the stance that hardships or mistreatment of children should not be addressed in cinematic productions. What messages do you try to convey to the audience of your films?

Well, I talk about whatever I want to talk about through my films. In my view, there’s no limit with regard to the subjects that can be addressed in today’s filmmaking.

For example, in May 20th the issue is child abuse. Through the story, I’m trying to send a message to parents: Please be careful about stalkers and your kids, where your children go, what’re they’re doing.

Cover Art of the 2009 short film May 20th

At the same time, the message to kids is: try to protect yourself and don’t get attached to strangers. And to the community: this is an issue we all need to be aware of and work to stop.

In Gloomy Boy, I try to talk to all the parents around the world. Please think about your kids before you make a decision about your family. Kids don’t came into this world to see and deal with your problems. They need the parents’ love and protection.

After seeing Gloomy Boy, two families that I know got back together here in France. To me, that means they got the message and that is the best award I could ever get for one of my films. I am happy and proud about that result.

Gloomy Boy

Your short film Gloomy Boy is shot in its entirety with an iPhone? Why did you decide to use such a device – and are there any advantages (or disadvantages) of doing so in comparison with shooting with a standard filmmaking camera?

First of all, I like to call Gloomy Boy a music video because that’s what it is. For every project there’s a pre-production period to make some decisions about the shoot. During that period for Gloomy Boy I decided to shoot it using an iPhone for several reasons. One is that it’s a new trend to shoot with an iPhone, mobile or a GoPro camera, because they are easy to use and handle.

A second reason is that on this shoot we were going to have very little space. As you can see from watching the video, it takes place in a very small place — a kid’s bedroom. Another reason for shooting with an iPhone is that it allows me to move very fast, which lends itself to a music video where you don’t want to have long duration shots. Finally, an iPhone is easy to handle with lights too.

Using such a device could present disadvantages too. It really depends on your project.

Elie - the young protagonist of Gloomy Boy — The young protagonist of Gloomy Boy

Can you talk about the casting decisions for your films? Where do you find your actors and what do you look for when casting them?

For my films I want to do the casting myself, because I’m the one who’s making the story. So I want to find the exact person from the real world that I imagined in my story. Luckily, I’ve been successful finding the right actors for my previous films and hopefully I will be for future films as well.

When casting, I mainly focus on how the actor looks and if he/she matches how I visualize my characters to look. Then I make a decision as to whether I think the actor has the potential talent to handle the character. If the actor wants to attempt the role, if necessary I’ll provide training.

That’s my method. But I should say this differs from director to director.

What’s next for you as a director? Will you be going behind the camera again with another project anytime soon?

I’m waiting to release my new music video Got U & Peace and after that I’m going back to work on my next short film. The casting for is halfway done and I have to do location scouting as well.

But happily I’ve found a producer. She is one of my best friends. We’re gonna shoot this summer. It’s gonna be awesome. And then there are other events and projects through my production company as usual.

Is there anything you want to add that we haven’t asked about?

I would like to thank TheSkykid.com, first of all, for giving me this opportunity to talk about my work. It’ll give people the chance to get to know a little bit more about me.

And also I would like to thank my parents, and my brother, who has helped me so much. Thanks also to my friends and everybody else who have supported me.

Please watch my films & other creations and let me know about your comments. May 20th & Gloomy Boy on IMDB are on IMDb so everyone can put a reviews, comments & ratings about them there. I really look forward to reading your opinions.

Favorite Coming-of-Age Films

Let’s finish the interview with a question I always ask filmmakers: As theSkyKid.com mainly focuses on Coming-of-Age films, it would be interesting to know if you have a favorite Coming-of-Age film that you could recommend to the people reading this interview.

There are so many films I really like, many that I’ve discovered through theskykid.com. I look at lots of films in the genre as I do my research before I do my stories & productions.

A few films come immediately to mind.

I like the movie called The 400 Blows. It’s very old but a nice film. The Boyhood movie that came out recently is another. I think it makes movie history because it’s a very long production. I like the story as it’s very realistic.

I love the story in The Tree of Life movie and there’s a Spanish language film called Viva Cuba in which the acting of the kids is great. It’s a well made film with a great story.

Finally I love all the Oliver Twist movies, but the last one, which came out 2005 from Director Roman Polanski, is the best for me. I love the way he tells and and presents the story so clearly and the outstanding acting of the young boy.

If you prefer you can watch the entire interview with extra content in below :

You can follow director on Twitter.

Holger & Vilde (2010)

Do you remember how much of a difference a few months in the summer made when you were a kid?

The Swedish director Eric Green Petersson will help you recall in his 2010 short film Holger & Vilde. The film features a bitter-sweet story about friendship, growing up, first love and everything in between. Holger and Vilde are best of friends, which makes them inseparable.

When the summer holidays begin, they have to split, but they promise each other they’ll reunite as soon as possible. While on their own, they face different situations and meet new people, so they don’t fully realize how much they have changed during their separation …

The film is a real delight with its bright scenes, soft focus and close-ups of the young protagonists. The nervousness and confusion of youth are immaculately captured on camera to associate with the character and get a real feel for their innocence and tenderness.

There are great cinematographic techniques utilized in the film that enhances its appeal, as does the time-lapse photography that adds a sense of magic to the scenes. Gentle guitars characterize the film’s main theme, composed by Bjorn Olsson, bringing a dreamlike atmosphere and melancholic feel.

Best friends :Holger & Vilde ( Marcus Karlsson and Sara Svedberg) — Best friends: Holger & Vilde ( Marcus Karlsson and Sara Svedberg)

The Coming-of-Age narrative of Holger & Vilde focuses on the beauty of friendships (especially those that can blossom into love), the shaping of one’s self-image, the gap between generations and last, but not least, the peer pressure to which kids (and adults alike) are subjected to at one time or another.

As one might expect from a Scandinavian film, the story is told quite realistically, including happenings in one’s rite-of-passage that movies released in other countries may choose to omit. That, and the parallel character development, increases the film’s appeal to audiences in their teens and pre-teens or to older viewers as a means of recalling their own childhood memories.

The Darkness is Close Behind (2011)

Sooner or later we all face situations in which a decision has to be made – and there is never a guarantee that we will make the right one. With a disturbing yet affecting title, Sheena McCann’s independent short film The Darkness is Close Behind tells the story of a teen forced to take responsibility long before he’s ready for it.

Jesse (Samuel Caleb Hunt) and his younger brother Joe (Kai Caster) have a tough life. Living in a house that looks more like a junkyard than a home, they supply their father with ingredients he needs to cook methamphetamine (even if one has seen an episode of the crime TV series Breaking Bad, it’s possible to get confused by what really happens). A problem with the latest batch angers the boys’ father and it becomes Jesse’s responsibility to protect and raise his younger sibling.

Featuring immaculate photography, The Darkness is Close Behind is one of those social dramas that builds up its story and the tension to a harsh and intense finale. It’s a story of failures, maturity and responsibility that won`t leave you indifferent.

Watch the entire short film below:

http://vimeo.com/32602952

Standing Up (2013)

“I thank God for sending me someone who changed my life.”

Directed by D.J. Caruso, the 2013 American film Standing up (though I tend to like the working title Goat Island better) features a genuine adventure story of two young kids, Coming-of-Age ala Bonnie and Clyde style.

“…Sometimes popular kids can be fierce. They could bully you into thinking that there is nothing special about you …”

The 12-year-old protagonists of the film Grace (Annalise Basso) and Howie (Chandler Canterbury) find themselves stripped naked and deserted on an island, victims of a tasteless initiation ritual at summer camp. When Grace and Howie meet, they decide to avoid further humiliation and run away together. The kids don’t have a destination in mind; they just want to be themselves and happy without being radicalized or bullied.

Standing Up doesn’t feature the typical “lost in the wilderness” kind of story that normally produces many clichés. This makes the story both original and engaging.

The film shares similar stylistics with other Coming-of-Age films such as Wes Anderson`s Moonrise Kingdom and Brad Isaacs`s 2007 flick Have Dreams, Will Travel. But what sets this film apart is that the journey of self-discovery and empowerment is from the perspective of its two main characters – both individually and jointly — ensuring a genuine portrayal of Coming-of-Age in both girlhood and boyhood (if there is even a difference to be recognized).

Chandler Canterbury as Howie in Standing Up

It`s against the law!What is?Us.

The importance of discovering one’s soulmate – one you can be mischievous with, get in and out trouble with and yet can always rely on — is an essential element of the film’s story. Friendship, even sparks of the first love between a boy and a girl, are often part of the growing-up experience.

Although Standing Up doesn’t relate to the intensity of youthful love as much as the 1993 Belgian film, The World of Ludovic (De wereld van Ludovic), the sentimentality and intimacy between Grace and Howie is depicted in a poignant and heartwarming manner that won’t leave any viewer indifferent.

Both Annalise Basso and Chandler Canterbury are outstanding in their respective roles. The chemistry between the young actors shows a successful casting process while giving the film an authentic appeal. The masterful direction and camerawork further enhance their performances. The latter often puts the young actors’ expressive faces in focus, allowing the viewer to see and experience their emotions.

Cinematographically, the movie stands out with warm glowing colours that give a really nostalgic feel to the film. Though the story is set back in the 80s, kids and adults of today will have no problem associating with the young heroes searching for acceptance and happiness.

Based on Brock Cole‘s award-winning young adult novel The Goats, Standing Up is one of the best Coming-of-Age movies I have had the pleasure to watch and review. In my opinion, it did not get the attention it deserved upon its release, but I urge you to seek it out. It’s entertaining and inspiring – teaching (as most rite-of-passage films do) important lessons about life without being preachy.

Trailer

Standing Up – watch the film at Amazon.com

Wolf Children (2013)

Never forget who you are

World War II has come to an end, but for thousands of orphaned kids, the nightmare didn’t end. German kids stuck in Lithuania had just one goal – to survive. Rick Ostermann’s 2013 film Wolf Children (original title: Wolfskinder) tells the story of two such kids: 14-year-old Hans (Levin Liam) and his younger brother Fritzchen (Patrick Lorenczat).

The final wish of their dying mother sends the boys on a harsh journey through a foreign land in the hope of reaching a settlement of farmers who offer help and shelter to German children. Under the constant threat of soldiers from the Red Army, the brothers battle hunger and exhaustion hoping to stay together and follow the instructions of their deceased mother.

As hard as he tries, Hans fails to protect his younger brother and the boys are forced to separate after a lethal encounter with soldiers. Not knowing if Fritzchen is alive or dead, Hans decides to keep moving on to the refugee camp, praying that his brother is still alive and they can be reunited there. He meets other children whose fates are as equally tragic as his own on his journey.

Rick Ostermann has succeeded in creating a film that grasps a hold of the viewer’s emotions and attention and doesn’t them go until the final credits roll and even after that. That is achieved by a unique mixture of visual storytelling – emphasizing the young protagonists’ facial expressions and overall first-class cinematography.

Shooting on location displays the beauty of nature while turning the desolate forests and meadows into yet another character of the film. By artistically juxtaposing the tiny silhouettes of the wandering kids and the vast landscapes – the cinematographer accentuated the characters’ vulnerability.

On the road - Wolf Children (2013) — On the road in *Wolf Children*

The camera allowed for natural glares and light imperfection that further boosted the credibility of the picture. Hand-held camera techniques are only sparingly used, which achieved the goal of conveying a first-person take on the events without being an annoyance. The soundtrack doesn’t call attention to itself, but it effectively makes the already intense scenes even more powerful.

Some of the events in the film may shock viewers, others will leave them in tears, but undoubtedly they will get involved with the fates of Hans, his brother, and the other children throughout the movie.

Scene from Wolf Children (2013) — Scene from *Wolf Children*

Although Wolf Children focuses on the aftermath of the war, it’s as heart-wrenching to watch as Elem Klimov’s 1985 masterpiece Come and See (Idi i smotri). The constant peril in which the young protagonists live obliges them to make choices, with more than just their innocence at stake. It doesn’t matter if we witness the trauma in the eyes of a Russian or a German kid – and the fact that the two films feature stories with distinct nationalities that opposed each other in the war only proves that, in war, there are no winners.

I am genuinely impressed with the film’s quality and don’t hesitate to recommend the movie to every fan of the Coming-of-Age genre. Despite the disturbing nature of some scenes, the film is a must-see, and audiences of all ages will appreciate the story – brought to life by great actors and first-class filmmaking.

Trailer ( in German )

An interview with Writer-director Rick Ostermann

Life According to Nino (2014)

Dutch filmmakers are known for addressing life matters in an original and poignant way. A prime example is the 2014 children’s film Life According to Nino, directed by Simone van Dusseldorp.

The movie opens with an almost utopian portrayal of family harmony and happiness. The narrative begins on the birthday of the film’s lead protagonist, eight-year-old Nino (Rohan Timmermans). Nino receives, as a gift — not the dog that he had wished for — but a rabbit. His disappointment is short-lived, however, and Bobby (the newly arrived rabbit’s name) is ready to join the happy family. This cheerful opening scene, which is typical in children’s films, didn’t fool me. My experience in the genre led me to believe that something was about to happen … and I was right.

Catastrophe, with Nino’s mother the victim of it, and suddenly the boy’s whole world is turned upside-down. The inconsolable father (Koen De Graeve) isn’t capable of dealing with his grief at the loss of his wife and takes refuge behind calming pills. Nino and his teenaged brother Lucas (played by Arend Bouwmeester) are left to deal with life on their own. Both cease going to school and, while Nino spends his days mostly in the company of his pet rabbit at home, Lucas gets into all kinds of mischief with his friends.

And now the story line takes an unexpected twist — Nino discovers an unusual ability: he is able to understand the language of animals and they also seem to understand him. This new found ability eases his loneliness and he bonds even more with Bobby who turns out to be quite an opinionated rabbit.

Nino ((Rohan Timmermans) ) and his best friend Bobby

Eventually the social services take interest in Nino`s family – worried that the boys are suffering from the neglect of their remaining parent. Foster care is mentioned and with it the “threat of separation” forces the family to take hold of their lives.

Life According to Nino is surprisingly funny at times, especially when one considers the serious issue on which the film is focused. The fact that the story is told from a child’s perspective is what gives it an appeal to audiences of all ages – but children especially will enjoy the scenes with talking animals and fun rabbit escapades. Naturally older viewers will catch the meaning behind this surrealistic portrayal of child’s imagination and equally enjoy the cleverness of the director’s approach.

The story is funny without being silly and serious without being boring, which combines with the excellent acting of young Rohan Timmermans (who, while being a novice actor, really shines in the film and does a great job embodying his character). Of course, in addition to his cuteness, one must also recognize the important role of the adorable Bobby – who delivers more than a credible performance – for a rabbit!

The comedian W.C. Fields once said, “Never work with children or animals.”, yet Simone van Dusseldorp proves in this film that working with both can result in an intriguing way to tell a story.

Life According to Nino won the award for Best International Children’s Film at Cinekid 2014 in Amsterdam and has since been made available on DVD and on iTunes, Goggle Play and other on-demand channels.

Official Trailer

The movie on IMBD

Book Review: A Lucky Child by Thomas Buergenthal

A moving, cool account of a searing, terrifying childhood

Wartime heroism takes many forms. Survival, honorably achieved, is the basis of this memoir of one young boy’s victory over the unimaginable cruelties, the starvation and brutality of the Nazi concentration camps.

It’s a story told coolly, without a trace of self-pity, long after the terrible events; told objectively, effectively so, with few adjectives and minimal sentiment, in a straight-forward style that adds to the raw power of the narrative. It simply recounts the dreadful conditions and circumstances the young survivor found himself facing.

I suspect most readers will feel it is more than simple luck, as the title modestly suggests, that allowed one small boy to outlast countless others who suffered and died under the same terrifying circumstances.

Good fortune had its part, no doubt. But so very few young children survived the Nazis’ mass murder of Jewish families (and other targeted groups) that it becomes clear how a combination of factors, including a sharp natural intelligence, precocious courage, and perhaps a physical robustness, also played their part in preserving the life of this amazing boy. And the world can be thankful that it was preserved to become an adult life of real significance and positive contribution to the human condition, on a global level. Because this “lucky child” lived on, eventually working to alleviate human suffering as an important jurist in the international courts of human rights.

After liberation, surviving children of the Auschwitz camp walk out of the children's barracks. Poland, January 27, 1945 — After liberation, surviving children of the Auschwitz camp walk out of the children’s barracks. Poland, January 27, 1945

It’s a true story, one that should be told in schools, a story to be read by anyone who strives to understand that strange dichotomy between the conflicting capacities for humans to do evil and to do good. The book also illustrates how some may capitulate or succumb to terrible treatment (often through no lack of moral strength, it must be said) while others may display an indomitability and resourcefulness that refuses to let go of life and hope.

The photo of the young Thomas on the book’s cover, taken shortly after his liberation from the horror of the camps, says much: still appearing somewhat shell-shocked from the deaths, the murders and depravities he witnessed, while at the same time projecting a searing intelligence and determination.

I would be honored to have known this boy, and this man, Thomas Buergenthal.

A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy

Cub (2014)

Coming-of-Age horror flicks are not very common, and “Slashers” even less so. That’s why the 2014 Belgium film Cub (original title: Welp), written and directed by Jonas Govaerts, is quite the discovery.

It’s got all the usual elements of the Slasher genre: gory scenes, psychopathic killer, surprising plot twists – interwoven with the story of Sam (Maurice Luijten), a young troubled boy who has joined the Cub Scouts on a camping trip during which everything that can turn bad – does!

If you are not a fan of the genre, Cub can get on your nerves with the way the narrative switches its focus from the very first scene on. From what at first promises to be a Boy Scout adventure, the story develops in an unforeseen direction when the scary tall tale the Scout leaders have created to make the trip more interesting turns out to be more real than anyone could imagine. Although some older teens may appreciate the film, the amount of violence in it makes it completely unsuitable for younger audiences or sensitive viewers.

Despite a cliché-ridden narrative that is confusing at times, the film doesn’t get boring mostly thanks to the fact that one is constantly trying to figure out what is really happening. The visual resemblance of Maurice Luijten to River Phoenix, from the latter’s Stand by Me days, will have appeal to a lot of fans of Coming-of-Age movies. And that’s especially so when you take into consideration that the talent of both actors shines throughout the whole duration of their respective films (even if Cub is not likely to be anywhere near as successful or as well known as Rob Reiner’s cult film).

The Coming-of-Age features of the film are mainly in the form of the friendship between Sam and another boy from the Scout troop. Other Coming-of-Age characteristics of the movie involve bullying, the desire to fit into the group and the need to change in order to survive.

If you are in for a twisted story – Cub has one for you. Yet the brutality of some of its final scenes makes me hesitate to recommend the film. I would not be surprised if there is a “mild down” US remake in the near future – and it might be wiser to wait for it.

Official Trailer

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3061836/combined

In short

A young troubled boy joins a Cub Scout camping trip during which everything that can turn bad – does!

2.8

SkyKid`s Rating

Watch on Demand

Amazon Video

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

If you are looking for a light-hearted comedy (the kind one would expect from Disney) with an bright young actor in the lead role — look no further than Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. That’s quite a long title for a film – but it certainly catches one’s attention.

Narrated in the first person by its protagonist, 12-year-old Alexander Cooper (Ed Oxenbould), the film focuses on a day in his life and the life of his family. And not just any day , but on one that is “Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad”.

In middle school one faces a lot of challenges and, at the age of 12, things can get overwhelming at times: no one seems to understand you and things don’t always go your way. So it’s only natural that, in that situation, a kid would wish that everyone around him would have the same kind of messed up day that he’s having…

But one has to be careful with wishes — for sometimes they come true!

The plot is a loose adaptation of the 1972 children’s book of the same name. In fact the adaptation is so loose that you could say that the film was merely inspired by the book. The action is set “now-a-days” and the result is a modern Coming-of-Age comedy. The narrative is filled with references to first love, peer pressure, the desire to be popular (or at least not unpopular — if that’s even an option), friendship, text bombs, phone apps and all the rest of the things with which today’s youth grow up.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day shares a lot of similarities with both the Diary of A Wimpy Kid films and the American sitcom The Middle. And, while it doesn’t impress with high cinematic or narrative values, it’s guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. All in all, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a family film that doesn’t fare well with repetitive viewings, but is fully capable of engaging audiences of all ages on a Friday evening.

The entire cast delivers outstanding performances, despite the fact that they have to portray rather stereotypical characters. Ed Oxenbould, in particular, is amazing as Alexander and one really gets involved with him and the misfortunes of his family. The now 13-year-old Australian actor appears to really get the mindset of his character (no wonder) and that really shows. His accent makes his character even more adorable, even though I imagine some viewers may find it a bit of an annoyance.

I enjoyed the film for what it is: a fun little flick. That being said, I can’t help but wonder why the rating on IMDB is not higher — other than the possibility that fans of the book might be disappointed that the film doesn’t follow closely enough with it and have viewed it with the wrong expectations.

Still, you will be better off seeing the film and making your own judgement. It has all the ingredients a Coming-of-Age comedy should have.

Official Trailer

The Value of Coming-of-Age Movies

Transition into Adulthood

Coming-of-Age films fall into a genre of films with plots revolving around a young person’s transition into adulthood. Essentially, it’s all about growing up and self-realization, a concept that can be illustrated through a powerful dream (The Wizard of Oz) or self-discovery among young adults (The Blue Lagoon). Most films within this genre portray an endearing transition from childhood into a world where grown-up decisions need to be made, with the Harry Potter series serving as a perfect example.

The joys and pitfalls of growing up in Boyhood ( 2014) — The joys and pitfalls of growing up in *Boyhood*

The Values

The values associated with Coming-of-Age movies may include some sense of moral responsibility that comes with developing an awareness of romantic feelings. Some movies, like Father of the Bride, carry these moral values through so-called conventional steps of adulthood, in this case getting married and, in the sequel, having children.

Humor is often used to deal with the sense of having more freedom to make decisions that comes with growing up, even if it’s decisions that turn out not to be all that well thought out. For instance, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off tells the tale of a kid who uses his wits to skip school, doing his best to keep his parents and other authority figures clueless in the process. There’s usually some lesson concerning the concept of right and wrong, typically illustrated through a course of events that involves things going horribly – or humorously – array before some sort of resolution occurs.

Scene from a classic Coming-of-Age film Stand by Me (1986) — A scene (featuring Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix) from a classic Coming-of-Age film *Stand by Me*

Life lessons

Life lessons tend to be another hallmark of Coming-of-Age movies, with a younger person typically learning an important lesson from a parent or other influential adult, as with The Karate Kid movies. In some cases, important realizations about life come from self-reflection that’s spurred by making mistakes and learning from them or simply engaging in a discussion that includes some type of self-awareness. The Breakfast Club (which celebrated its 30th birthday this week) is about a group of kids from different walks of life spending a Saturday in detention, and is a perfect example of this type of Coming-of-Age film. Movies like Less Than Zero (about drug use) dig a little deeper by presenting a moral lesson by showing the consequences of living a certain lifestyle.

My Life as a Dog (1985 )- A coming-of-age story filled with depth and sensitivity — *My Life as a Dog* – A Coming-of-Age story filled with depth and sensitivity

The process of transitioning from childhood to adulthood is, by nature, something that takes place over time through a series of events spread out over time. However, any major life lesson can be considered a Coming-of-Age moment, with a particular moment being the main focus of a movie. With Bambi, for example, the death of the young deer’s mother provides an introduction to a world that’s not always safe and sheltered. Forrest Gump, on the other hand, is an example of how values can be learned from the process of growing up and experiencing new things over time.

A new sense of purpose

Coming-of-Age movies tend to address different audiences with themes appropriate for a particular age group. The ultimate value of Coming-of-Age cinema is to tap into common emotions and provide a clear example of life decisions that can either turn out to be wondrous discoveries or life-changing events that can offer a different perspective or a new sense of purpose.

Always Number One (2009)

A competitive spirit is important – but in life, one may often find higher value in compassion. That’s the main theme of the 2009 film Always Number One (original title: Immer Nummer Eins). Directed by Stefan Schneider, the made-for-TV short film tells the story of the encounter of Florian (Miguel Jachmann) and Daniel (Tim Scholtes ) — two pupils at a German boarding school.

Daniel is a newcomer to the school, and, as does every kid in his situation, he tries to fit in by being helpful and friendly. However, Florian (whom Daniel has been assigned as his roommate at the school) sees Daniel as a threat to his own peer status. He tries to take advantage of the newcomer, but his plot fails thanks to his new roommate’s creativeness.

The competition intensifies when Florian finds out that Daniel is a great runner and is a threat to his “number one“ status in the school’s races. Daniel’s nerves are on edge, and he decides to do all that it takes to stop the newcomer from winning the next school race. Yet he has to learn that:

“You often meet your fate on the road you take to avoid it.“

Always Numer One`s cinematic qualities do not exceed the level of most low-budgeted television productions (as opposed to those of most big-screen movies). The overuse of the music score is annoying at times. Yet the excellent portrayals of the young actors (both newcomers to the cinema), and the moral values of the story, more than compensate for the few flaws of the film.

German short movies have a nostalgic value for older audiences and are inspirational for younger ones—all-in-all a good choice for the entire family.

Finn (2013)

“A life without dreams is like a garden without flowers.”

Self-expression has always been one of the main themes addressed in Dutch movies. It is also one of the main motifs addressed in Finn (2013). Like the winner of the Young Audience Award, Kauwboy, presented by the European Film Academy in 2012, in Finn Frans Weisz features an unpretentious, yet moving story.

The main protagonist is a sensitive nine-year-old boy (Mels van der Hoeven) who lives with his father Frank (Daan Schuurmans). Visual cues (and also those given in dialogue) fill in the details of Finn`s life– like the absence of a mother (passed away at childbirth) and the desire of the father to set a straight course for the life of his son:

“You’re a normal Dutch boy who likes to play soccer and that’s that….I don’t want you to become a loner.”

It soon becomes clear that the physical absence of the mother does not translate into a spiritual one as Frank`s memories and/or grief play an important role in his interactions with his son.

One day, on his way to school, Finn follows a crow to an abandoned farmhouse – where Finn sees an image of his mother, smiling – magically summoned by an old man playing a violin.

Enchanted by the image of his late mother and the music of the old man (a wizard in the boy`s mind), Finn decides to ask him if he would be willing to give him violin lessons. The old man reluctantly agrees, but not before warning the impressive boy that excellence requires:

“Practice, practice, and more practice. You’ll have no time left. Not for your friends, for nobody.”

A price Finn is willing to pay.

Against the will of his father (who sends the boy to a soccer practice), the boy decides to spend his time with the old man learning violin. He does this in secret, but eventually his father finds out and his reaction forever changes both his life and Finn’s…

Finn (Mels van der Hoeven) taking lessons from the "wizzard" (Jan Decleir) — Finn (Mels van der Hoeven) taking lessons from the “wizard” (Jan Decleir)

The fairy tale like opening sequence made me think that the film might end up being a fantasy – similar to the 2002 German flick Help, I am a Boy/Hilfe, ich bin ein Junge. Yet, soon I started to question my initial impression as the story began to develop in a logical, realistic manner. The supernatural atmosphere and nuances were still present, but in an intriguing way they enhanced the feeling of authenticity in the story. The film takes an intriguing approach in portraying Coming-of-Age, building of character, bullying, father-son and inter-generational relationships and — last, but not least — the issues of dealing with death and grief.

Finn is filled with messages which are effectively exposed to the viewer thanks to the creative plot interplay and the appreciation that viewers of all ages are guaranteed to feel as the story develops.

Recommended!

Trailer

TheSkyKid.com

TheSKyKid.com

An Interview With Filmmaker Reshan Fernando

Focus on Childhood

Spreading a Message

Favorite Coming-of-Age Films

Holger & Vilde (2010)

The Darkness is Close Behind (2011)

Standing Up (2013)

Wolf Children (2013)

Life According to Nino (2014)

Book Review: A Lucky Child by Thomas Buergenthal

Cub (2014)

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

The Value of Coming-of-Age Movies

Transition into Adulthood

The Values

Life lessons

A new sense of purpose

Always Number One (2009)

Finn (2013)