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SKY IS EVERYWHERE, THE

The colorful and beautifully-acted film The Sky Is Everywhere by director Josephine Decker and writer Jandy Nelson blends magic and romance in a perfect story just in time for Valentine's Day. The film's setting in the redwood forests of Northern California creates the perfect backdrop for scenes that include magical realism. In addition, Grace Kaufman, Jacques Colimon and Pico Alexander all act their hearts out in this dramatic story about moving through grief and loss.

The Sky Is Everywhere tells the story of a high school senior named Lennie (Grace Kaufman) who suffers the sudden loss of her older sister, and, in her grief, also loses the ability to play her clarinet. She bonds with her sister's devastated boyfriend Toby (Pico Alexander), and yet is also intrigued by a new boy in her advanced band class named Joe (Jacques Colimon). We watch Lennie navigate her feelings about both boys while also processing her sister's death.

Grace Kaufman does not hold back in her portrayal of Lennie, showing how she moves in and out of different stages of grief. Her acting feels natural as does her chemistry with both of her male co-stars. Pico Alexander gives a sympathetic performance as Toby who is distraught and confused. Jacques Colimon's Joe comes off as playful and flirtatious. You really feel the chemistry between Lennie and Joe. One of the best parts of The Sky Is Everywhere is how magical realism is used to bring Lennie's emotions to life. People break out in dance, musical notes float across the screen and Lennie's grandmother's rose garden comes alive, which is also my favorite scene in the film.

The main message of The Sky Is Everywhere is the importance of letting yourself experience grief after a big loss. In the film, you see Lennie clinging to her sister's belongings, breaking out in tears and getting angry at her grandmother. She has to experience the full range of emotions before she can move forward with her life. There is some light sexual content and a stereotypical "mean girl" who competes with Lennie for first chair in clarinet.

I give The Sky Is Everywhere 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this film for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The Sky Is Everywhere opens in select theaters and on Apple TV+, Friday, February 11, 2022.

By Samantha B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

The Sky is Everywhere is a unique film, filled with surprises, romance, and cool CGI. The film is also great to watch if you are a fan of instruments, music, and art. The Sky is Everywhere digs deep into the struggles and hardship of Lennie Walker (Grace Kaufman), a girl who lost her sister to a condition and is trying to figure out how to keep going in life without her. Lennie is trying to find her path again after being lost in a world of pain that she goes through with her sister's boyfriend Toby (Pico Alexander.) . Even as grief is still smacking her in the face, Lennie ends up meeting a new boy Joe Fontaine (Jacques Colimon) who changes her perspective of love and happiness.

I am absolutely touched by this film. As far as the storyline goes, I think that it would be difficult to live in someone's shadow and that would block me from who I truly am--which is how Lennie feels until she moves on. She goes into a kind of fake reality, floating in the sky, with the world and the beauty of nature making her feel alive. The settings are usually in spots of quietness or nature, like the forest Lennie lives near, or her house. The forest is a go-to hang out spot because that is Lennie's comfort zone from when her sister Bailey (Havana Rose Liu) was alive.

My favorite part is the ending when Lennie realizes that her sister was with her wherever she went, and no matter what she did. I love how nothing is predictable and everything comes by surprise. The ending of the story is happy and fulfilling, and brings much joy.

The message of The Sky is Everywhere is that either bad or good things can happen at any given time, but you must keep living. There is some language that would be inappropriate for younger viewers.

I give The Sky is Everywhere 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 14 to 17, plus adults. The Sky is Everywhere releases on Apple TV + February 11, 2022.

By SaniyaRain, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

The Sky is Everywhere is a whimsical movie that tells a story of teenage loss, discovery and love. Throughout the film, director Josephine Decker expresses her artistic eye with imaginary landscapes that are harmoniously fused with dramatic choreography and rhythmic music. Adapted by a novel of the same name by Jandy Nelson, the screenplay of The Sky is Everywhere was also written by the author.

The Sky is Everywhere follows the dramatic evolution of its lead character, Lennie Walker (Grace Kaufman). Lennie is a musical prodigy who is grief-stricken from the sudden death of her best friend and sister Bailey (Havana Rose Liu). As the story twists and turns, Lennie finds herself in a whirlwind of emotion when she is unexpectedly attracted to two different boys, Toby (Pico Alexander), her late sister's fiancé, and Joe (Jacques Colimon), a fellow musician at her school.

Grace Kaufman's performance as Lennie radiates in the film. She is my favorite character because Kaufman's acting is raw and alive. There are scenes in the film that will tether you to her and scenes that will drive you away. Overall, I really enjoyed Lennie's spiritual journey. Other notable character performances include Gram (Cherry Jones) and Joe (Jacques Colimon.). Cherry Jones portrays Lennie's spirited grandmother perfectly. Jacques Colimon gives a blazing performance as Joe, a handsome musician and love interest of Lennie's. Many of the film's scenes are set underneath a lush canopy of redwood trees with magical skylines. The cinematography is outstanding with its bold filming techniques. The cameras twirl, zoom and flow perfectly with the characters' movements.

The messages of the movie are to not let grief take over your life and damage closest relationships, and to be considerate of others with similar experiences. There is also the theme of encouraging us to embrace music. The Sky is Everywhere does have some profanity and drug use. There is no shown sexual content, but it is mentioned several times.

I give The Sky is Everywhere 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 14 to 18, plus adults. This movie releases in theaters and Apple TV+ on February 11, 2022.

By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

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Tucked among the magical redwood trees of Northern California and surrounded by her grandmother's gargantuan roses, 17-year-old Lennie Walker, a radiant musical prodigy, struggles with overwhelming grief following the sudden loss of her older sister, Bailey. When Joe Fontaine, the charismatic new guy at school, enters Lennie's life, she's drawn to him. But Lennie's complicated relationship with her sister's devastated boyfriend, Toby, starts to affect Lennie and Joe's budding love. Through her vivid imagination and honest, conflicted heart, Lennie navigates first love and first loss to create a song of her own. Acclaimed filmmaker Josephine Decker directs this moving adaptation of the beloved novel of the same name.