You are never too young (or old) to learn, and nothing like doing it through playful activities that give us essential life lessons without having to experience them firsthand. Although nobody indeed teaches someone else a lesson, the wonderful thing about the seventh art is that it allows you to generate “experiential” sensations even if they are not happening to you; that is why we want to share with you five movies for children that teach life lessons.
Journalist Claudia del Castillo, who specializes in cinematography and is co-director of Cinetc, a company dedicated to cinema in all its processes, comments, “Hollywood cinema stands out; however, there are also high-quality Mexican films. Even the animated movies are perfect, the idea that in Mexico there aren’t produced good movies has gone down in history”. And she concludes, “There are films that leave great life lessons, especially for children, some hidden, others very clear, but that is the magic of cinematography, which entertains and educates at the same time.”
But let’s dive right in with our expert’s recommendations!
1. EL JEREMÍAS
Synopsis: It tells the story of a brilliant, misfit, and pessimistic boy who, after learning that he is a genius boy, struggles to get ahead despite the ignorance and scarce resources of his family. At only eight years old, he has to anticipate the most difficult decision of his life and define what he wants to be when he grows up.
Teaching: Jeremías always felt different and ashamed of his family. He got the opportunity to live in a privileged place and obtain the education indicated for his intellectual capacities. At first, he felt like a fish in water, surrounded by people who understood his jokes; however, being away from his family made him realize that they, even with their ignorance and poverty, were neither better nor worse than the gifted ones he lived with. His life lesson: he realized that no one would love him more than his family.
Generals: Mexican dramedy distributed by Sony Pictures in 2017, starring Martín Castro, under the direction of Anwar Safa. Written by Ana Sofía Clerici. It’s 93 minutes of pure fun with El Jeremías.
“Martín Castro, at nine years old in 2016, won the Ariel for male revelation for his leading performance in El Jeremías”.
2. KUNG FU PANDA
Synopsis: The protagonist is a panda named Po, the laziest and most greedy of all the creatures in the Valley of Peace. With a dangerous enemy closing in, hope is pinned on an ancient prophecy that says that a hero will rise to save them, and an “accident” will show that this hero is possibly Po.
Teaching: Under pressure, this lanky panda allowed his self-esteem to drop and, with it, his happiness. His life lesson: He felt that all his efforts were not worth it, but thanks to the trust his father had in him, he managed to understand that perseverance, effort, and teamwork would help him achieve anything he set out to do, for more incredible than it seems.
Generals: Animated film, directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson. The main actors in the original dubbing are Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, and Jackie Chan. Written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, set to music by Hans Zimmer. It runs for 95 minutes and is a DreamWorks Animation and Pacific Data Images production.
3. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Synopsis: Live-action adaptation of the Disney classic. It tells the story of Belle, a young woman who dreams of adventure and a world beyond the confines of her town in France. Independent and reserved, Bella wants nothing to do with the cocky Gastón, who pursues her relentlessly. When her father is imprisoned in the Beast’s castle, she offers to trade for her father and is confined. She quickly befriends the former staff of the place, who were transformed into household items after a curse.
Teaching: This moving story goes far beyond a simple love story. Along the way, Bella shows us that she is noble at heart in addition to being bright and cultured. This classic teaches us that we should not judge a book by its cover because life is more than appearances. Her life lesson: Not all rich people are educated, or good people; not all poor people are uneducated or evil.
General: This rehash, classified as a romantic/fantastic/musical, came out in 2017 and lasts 123 minutes in which we can appreciate the performances of Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, and Emma Thompson, among others. Direction: Bill Condon. Screenplay: Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos, based on the novel by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.
4. NIKTÉ
Synopsis: It tells the story of an orphan girl with a bad temper, who wants to be important, and to achieve this, she deceives her people by pretending to be the princess announced in a prophecy. She doesn’t know that this will demand much more than she can offer and that to fulfill it, she will live many dangerous adventures.
Teaching: Nikté thought that everything would be simple, but she realizes that it was easy to lie and that now the difficult thing would be to behave up to the lie that she invented. On her journey, she understands that the responsibility she bears on her shoulders for having lied will determine the welfare of her people, and she will have to cling to friendship and companionship to understand that humility is a treasure. Her life lesson: to be great, you first have to be small in every way.
General: Produced by Animex Estudio and Nahuala Cinematographic Productions. It is a Mexican animated film written by Antonio Garci and Omar Mustre and directed by Ricardo Arnaiz. It premiered in 2009 and lasts 86 minutes.
5. YA VEREMOS
Synopsis: Santi is a boy who has had to deal with his parents’ separation. One day he receives the news that he must undergo surgery to prevent losing his sight, so he makes a wish list to fulfill them together with his two parents before the operation, so his parents must learn to live together, embarking on a trip unexpected.
Teaching: This plot shows a separated family, where the parents fight, and the son is in the middle. An illness marks a new beginning that makes the three understand that union is strength. Between the fear that their son could go blind even with the operation and living together to comply with Santiago’s list “in case he never sees again,” the story leaves us with a life lesson: family is paramount, and the positive message of overcoming and accepting your reality with a positive attitude, whatever it may be.
Generals: Fernanda Castillo, Mauricio Ochmann, and Emiliano Aramayo star in this 2018 film. This Mexican production is directed by Pedro Pablo “Pitipol” Ibarra, with a script by Alberto Bremer; this Mexican production provides 97 minutes of dramatic comedy suitable for the whole family.
“It’s amazing to listen to children when they tell you what they learned from a movie; I love it!”
Claudia del Castillo, film journalist
Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver
Spanish version: Here
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