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WORK OF HEART, A

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This film shows that we are not built to be mind readers. It's annoying how Amanda's mom (Christine Bergeron) incorrectly assumes that her daughter wants to take formal art classes. Amanda's (Maya Rosalia) thwarted attempt to help Bonnie (Heather McPhaul) is another good example of what a mistake it is when we don't ask another person what they really want. The young protagonist, Amanda, is experiencing a lot of emotional turmoil after her father's death. She relates well to Bonnie, who lives and paints at the local park. Amanda defies her mother's orders to stay away from Bonnie and assertively tries to help Bonnie solve her homelessness "problem," but Bonnie surprises her. It's refreshing to see how 12-year-old Amanda has a mind of her own, with her own set of values. It's also exciting to see how industrious Amanda and her girlfriends are in raising enough money to buy Bonnie a bus ticket to Seattle. Bonnie shows a wide range of emotions often seen in homeless people: contentment, kindness toward animals, and resistance to offers of help. My favorite part of this film is when Amanda experiences some sort of an epiphany. After Bonnie's refusal to accept the bus ticket to Seattle, Amanda gains insight into the importance of free will in human beings. I also liked how the director makes you wonder if Bonnie actually makes a video for her sister's birthday, or if this video is just a figment of Amanda's imagination. This scene makes the end of the movie a bit puzzling. The message is to communicate more clearly with people that we care about. Ask them what they want, rather than try and make decisions for them. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend it for ages 10 to 18 and adults will enjoy it as well. Reviewed by Jeff M., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror

Based on a true story. A grieving twelve year old fosters a kinship with a homeless woman. Defying her mother's rules, the tween formulates a plan to get her friend off the streets. She is unpleasantly surprised at the outcome of her altruistic intentions.