Monday, September 5, 2016
The Never-Ending Story Adoption Movie Review
The Plot
Bastian is a shy twelve-year-old boy who is bullied each day on his way to school. His home life is sad, too; Bastian recently lost his mother, and in the wake of her death he is daydreaming in class and not participating in extracurricular events. His dad encourages him to move on, saying that although he understands Bastian’s sadness, his mother’s death cannot be an excuse for not getting things done. He encourages Bastian to face the present day rather than immersing himself into his daydreams.
One day, Bastian runs into a bookstore to hide from his bullies.
There, he discovers a mysterious book, which the shopkeeper warns him is
dangerous. Bastian takes the book and hides in the school attic to read it. In
it, Bastian reads the story of Fantasia, a mystical land that is being consumed
by a cynical nothingness. We follow along with the young warrior Atreyu as he
goes on a quest to find a way to save the young Childlike Empress, so that she
can in turn save Fantasia. As Atreyu’s quest goes on, Bastian finds the story
to be more than relevant to his own life; it speaks directly to him.
**There are spoilers ahead the rest of the way.**
The Adoption
Connection
Bastian has lost his mother. He has not processed this loss,
but it seems to be affecting him, as he is not engaging with school or
extracurricular activities, and often having dreams about his mother. His
father means well, but unhelpfully urges him to put the past away. In reading
the mysterious book, Bastian is able to confront his sadness about his mother’s
loss; he is encouraged to not give into despair, and he is able to find healing
for himself and for Fantasia. Although Bastian’s mom was lost to death, kids in
foster care or kids who have been adopted might connect with his sense of loss.
It could be helpful for parents to note that the adults in
Bastian’s life – his dad and his teachers – noticed his behaviors: he’s
withdrawn and distracted, but they don’t seem to have understood those behaviors
as signs of unprocessed grief. Most behaviors make some sense within the
context of the person doing the behaviors, and sometimes addressing the context
will be more effective than focusing solely on the behaviors.
Bastian finds healing and bravery in his own imagination,
guided by the story contained in the book he finds. Adoption at the Movies is
based on the belief that stories can be very helpful for processing heavy
real-life themes, and The NeverEnding Story captures that perfectly.
The NeverEnding Story has created a fanciful, memorable and beautiful
world.
The film underscores the importance of self-esteem,
self-confidence, and not letting sadness turn into despair.
Atreyu finds helpful, safe friends along his journey.
Challenges
Bastian’s dad means well but misses the fact that his son is
grieving.
Although the film does show the value of self-esteem and the
importance of avoiding despair, it is a bit heavy-handed. A man is killed by a
Sphinx for not feeling true self-worth, and a beloved character dies when they
sink into a sea of sadness.
Weak Points
Some young kids and other sensitive viewers might be
troubled by the threat of losing a whole world.
The responsibility of saving the
world appears to fall solely on one young boy, which could be a trigger for
kids in foster care who blame themselves for being in the foster care system. Multiple
characters lament their own failures with deep sorrow, and we see that this
only hurts them.
A terrifying wolf-like creature has been sent to pursue and
kill Atreyu.
A horse drowns.
Recommendations
The NeverEnding Story is a special movie, and it was neat to
see it on the big screen again. It seems likely to be scary for kids much
younger than 7, but could be a special opportunity for you to share a film from
your childhood with your kids ages 7-12 or so. The NeverEnding Story can lead
to discussions about the fact that people need to process their sadness in order
to move on, as well as lighter discussions about movies and stories that have
been helpful to you – and even fanciful thoughts about the film’s magical creatures.
Best for kids ages 8-12 and their parents.
Questions for
Discussion
What stories have been helpful or very meaningful to you?
What stories have you read that reflect your own life in some way? Which
stories are your favorites to escape into?
What do you think Bastian needed to do in order to find
happiness again? What do you think of the advice his dad tried to give him? Can
you just get on with life after something very sad happens, or do you have to
process it in one way or another?
When you’re sad, what helps you not sink all the way in?
What was your favorite fanciful character?
If you had a luck dragon, what would you do with it?
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