I first watched this film when I was 9, maybe 10 years old, and I can remember crying uncontrollably as Sara crossed the wooden board into the neighbor's house, and then at the reunion with her father. Nothing has changed. I've watched it at least 10 more times in my life, and I still cry in it, even now, because it really is a powerful story line, with amazing camera techniques and filming expertise, especially considering that this film was released nearly 20 years ago now.
It's not just the emotions evoked from watching this film that make it worth seeing, though. It is a children's film, and as a child I was inspired. It encouraged me to believe in magic and the power of the imagination, and it's because of this film that I now write creative stories, book-length, and filled with fantasy.
I want people to acknowledge that this is an incredible film, and whilst critics may argue that it's not entirely accurate on some points, my response to this is: it's a children's film. It teaches about the hardships of war and the social segregation of the class system of this time, as well as including racism and slavery. To make all of these subjects applicable in a children's film, it has to have a happy ending, and it has to make the "baddie" end up in a bad situation, because whilst being educational, it's a film, and it's not supposed to be real.
Instead, it's inspiring, amazing, and I can honestly call it my favorite film of all time.
It's not just the emotions evoked from watching this film that make it worth seeing, though. It is a children's film, and as a child I was inspired. It encouraged me to believe in magic and the power of the imagination, and it's because of this film that I now write creative stories, book-length, and filled with fantasy.
I want people to acknowledge that this is an incredible film, and whilst critics may argue that it's not entirely accurate on some points, my response to this is: it's a children's film. It teaches about the hardships of war and the social segregation of the class system of this time, as well as including racism and slavery. To make all of these subjects applicable in a children's film, it has to have a happy ending, and it has to make the "baddie" end up in a bad situation, because whilst being educational, it's a film, and it's not supposed to be real.
Instead, it's inspiring, amazing, and I can honestly call it my favorite film of all time.