Watch Kids' Reviews of
SWIMSUIT SEASON, THE

The Swimsuit Season appeals to me, because the issue of this short film is about body shaming and bullying, something that is very real for kids today.

The storyline is about an over weight kid in Italy who goes to a water park. He is ashamed of his weight so he goes to the girls bathrooms to change into his bathing suit. When he discovers his bathing suit has a hole in it he goes to go to the front desk to ask for another swimsuit. While he puts on sunscreen two kids pick on him calling him a fat loser. He starts to yell at them, but he then he has a daydream about being a super hero. Then, the bullies hit him with a water balloon.

I like how the boy daydreams about being a hero. He doesn't care how his reflection looks in the water. I like the scene when he puts on his googles and wears his towel like a cape. The setting is in a water park in Italy. The dialogue is in Italian with English subtitles. I like the song during the daydream scene. It is the perfect choice. The camera work is well executed. The audio is clear. This would play well at a KIDS FIRST! Film Festival. I recommend this film because children need to learn to stand for themselves and accept themselves the way they are. There is nothing wrong about looking look different from other people. Being different is being unique.

The moral of this film is: it doesn't matter how you look or what type of body shape we have, we can love ourselves the way we are and we need to learn to stand for ourselves.

I give The Swimsuit Season 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 7 to 18, plus adults. Reviewed by Ethan P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

The Swimsuit Season is visually pleasing due to the bright, summery visuals and chill music. But this film also shares an insight into experiences that aren't shown very much in mainstream media. I find films to be more appealing when they tackle an important, controversial or underrated issue in order to bring light or spread awareness.

The story takes place in summer with a boy that just wants to go to the pool, but the way others perceive him quickly changes the mood of his day.

I like that the film focuses on a topic that is often overlooked in mainstream media - body image. It sends a message to impressionable young kids. While the scenes and camera angles are pretty standard, the colors are extremely vibrant and truly emanate the feeling of summer. I don't know how the filmmakers brought that kind of color quality to the film but kudos to them for making it happen. The boy's original swimsuit is ruined as he attempts to lock his stall before someone else walks in on. The red swimsuit that he is forced to buy from the pool store is vital in showing the discomfort he feels starting that point onward in the film. This film is set at a pool. There are changing stalls, a little store, other kids enjoying themselves in it, and young boys walking in pairs around. The music is perfect for a hot summer day. The boy is an adorable kid that wants to enjoy a day at the pool. One of his cutest moments is when he sees the pool, the slide, and all the other kids enjoying their day and he smiles to himself. This just shows how the little things can mean so much to someone and reminds me that I take a lot of things for granted. Then, there's a conflict with other boys shaming him. But he rises to the occasion, much to our relief - only to be subjected to the bullying once again. My favorite part is when the boy wraps the towel around his neck like a cape, puts on his swim cap and goggles and prepares to jump into the pool. Imagination is a wild thing and makes us see the world much differently. We usually grow out of it or at least a form of it, but kids have this fantastic filter less imagination and I love it!

This film tells us not to take things for granted and enjoy the little things. It shows us how our words, especially negative ones, affect others. We get a message about not letting things stop us also.

I give The Swimsuit Season 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10 to 16.

No matter what age you are, you can learn from the messages in this film. Reviewed by Anokhi L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

Ayman, an overweight boy, is determined to face his insecurities by spending a day in a public pool. But the "swimsuit proof" will be full of little obstacles that will put the boy in trouble.