The story follows a Jamaican man describing his childhood in a rural township, discussing the importance of community and family and traditions such as Boxing Day. The story is simple and yet meaningful. The narrator has a beautiful way with words and illuminates the tale of his upbringing with sweet lines like: Four rooms, six people, but we still had enough room for love. It's a story many born and brought up in other parts of the world can resonate with and holds great value for American audiences as an educational tool. The animation is simple and charming 2D. It almost seems like the film is composed of different collages made with paper, clippings, fabrics and other materials. Every "collage" has mobile components (like puttering buses, boys walking to get water, men playing cards) that keep the story moving. The animated characters seem almost hand-drawn or crafted by a child). They function well as illustrative devices. The characters are dressed in simple clothes and do not have faces, perhaps to highlight the everyman nature of the story. The backgrounds are unique and vibrant, and you can definitely tell this is a film set in the Caribbean. I especially love the background of the city, with palm trees, low buildings, and tour buses. There's a jaunty background music track featuring what I seems to be a marimba. The music certainly adds to the Caribbean or Jamaican ethos of the film. Some effects have been added in to enhance each scene, including sound effects of kids playing and horns honking. These make the film feel more real. I love the narration, specifically the speaker's choice of words and warm accent. The narrator (Norbert Thomas) is never seen on camera, but you can perfectly picture a warm, fatherly figure of him from his narration. His narration and the story combine to make the film compelling. Gregory Edwards is the director, writer and producer. He painstakingly animated and assembled the entire film, a commendable act in itself. The message of the film is how important it is to value one's community and traditions, no matter how far you may stray from your roots.
I give Boxing Day 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. By Eshaan M. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
The story follows a Jamaican man describing his childhood in a rural township, discussing the importance of community and family and traditions such as Boxing Day. The story is simple and yet meaningful. The narrator has a beautiful way with words and illuminates the tale of his upbringing with sweet lines like: Four rooms, six people, but we still had enough room for love. It's a story many born and brought up in other parts of the world can resonate with and holds great value for American audiences as an educational tool. The animation is simple and charming 2D. It almost seems like the film is composed of different collages made with paper, clippings, fabrics and other materials. Every "collage" has mobile components (like puttering buses, boys walking to get water, men playing cards) that keep the story moving. The animated characters seem almost hand-drawn or crafted by a child). They function well as illustrative devices. The characters are dressed in simple clothes and do not have faces, perhaps to highlight the everyman nature of the story. The backgrounds are unique and vibrant, and you can definitely tell this is a film set in the Caribbean. I especially love the background of the city, with palm trees, low buildings, and tour buses. There's a jaunty background music track featuring what I seems to be a marimba. The music certainly adds to the Caribbean or Jamaican ethos of the film. Some effects have been added in to enhance each scene, including sound effects of kids playing and horns honking. These make the film feel more real. I love the narration, specifically the speaker's choice of words and warm accent. The narrator (Norbert Thomas) is never seen on camera, but you can perfectly picture a warm, fatherly figure of him from his narration. His narration and the story combine to make the film compelling. Gregory Edwards is the director, writer and producer. He painstakingly animated and assembled the entire film, a commendable act in itself. The message of the film is how important it is to value one's community and traditions, no matter how far you may stray from your roots.
I give Boxing Day 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. By Eshaan M. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST! Goes Local: Submit a review & win!
