Molly an American Girl DVD Review
On the Home Front - War Stress 1943 and Little Girls Coming of Age
What must it have been like to view war through the eyes of little girls and boys as the impact of the second World War touched the shores of England and America? The year, early spring of 1943.
Storyline
Molly, pre-teen (Maya Ritter), and her two friends Susan (Hannah Fleming) and Linda (Samantha Wilson), of Jefferson, Illinois, are enamored with British royalty. They catch glimpses of life in England through the news reels at the theater. However, fairy tales of princesses and princes and queens and kings are brought to a sharp halt when the realities of war slam into their worlds, specifically, Molly's world.
The story is excellent - well written script. This is a superb family film!
Being careful not to spoil the plot of the story, Molly reluctantly must face reality and leave behind some of her childhood. The viewer watches the stress build upon her and it is heart wrenching to watch.
Will Molly find a way to cope? Will she cave in on herself? The film reminds viewers that children are the innocent victims in the prideful pursuits of self-seeking adults, regimes and ideologies. A reminder that nations who refuse to drop their weapons and build legacies of peace only perpetuate the cycle of hate and the pertinacious resolve for vengeance.
Actors
The child actors handle their parts superbly! The adult actors, though their performances are good, there is limited opportunity to act. After all, the story is told through the eyes of Molly and her friends.
Choreography and Score
The sets, costumes, hairstyles, home furnishings, makeup and overall history of the era is excellently presented. The clips of the movie newsreels cement the authenticity of the themes presented. The musical score has snippets of the dances and music popular during the war years - overall, very well done. This film is worth viewing for just these materials.
The tension within the film is not shown with gruesome scenes. Instead, the intrigue and the movement of the story is bolstered through the acting of the children and the unfolding stories. Gripping stories can be told without blood and gore.
Special Features
There is an interesting interview with a celebrity dancer who performed before the troops. For young children, a decent live history lesson.
There is a tap dance sequence breaking down a tap dance routine executed within the movie. This can be a little boring for adults, but is probably suitable for young girls. Boys, unless very interested in tap dancing, might not be particularly interested.
Additional Comments
This movie is geared towards young girls. Young boys may not find this particularly interesting, yet, Molly's character is contrasted with the comments and actions of her younger brother, Ricky (Andrew Chalmers). His persona as well as the personas of some of the other characters offer different perspectives.
For counselors who specialize in grief and war trauma (post traumatic stress disorder) counseling, this may be a good film to explore feelings relevant to war issues. However, there are some touching scenes which may or not be considered too strong. Counselors would be strongly advised to view beforehand before implementing.
Molly an American Girl, on the Home Front
- Anna Sandor (screenplay - awarded the 2007 Humanitas Prize);
- Directed by Joyce Chopra;
- Starring Maya Ritter;
- Tory Green;
- Hannah Fleming;
- Samantha Wilson;
- Josette Halpert;
- David Aaron Baker;
- Molly Ringwald;
- Genevieve Farrell; and,
- Andrew Chalmers.
- Release date(s) November 26, 2006
Not rated, 85 minutes running time.
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Molly McIntire DVD Cover
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