The story follows a young boy whose illness relapses, and he meets a girl in the hospital who shows him how to keep living despite his sickness.
This film tackles the tough, but not uncommon subjects of mortality, living with a sick family member, and learning to prepare for the end of things, and those are important lessons for youth and families. As a childhood cancer survivor I know firsthand what it's like to be so young and yet so isolated in the sterile, cold halls of a hospital. This film excels at showcasing the different attitudes surrounding that. The kids are too young to fully grasp what's going on but they are becoming more aware (and in the case of the girl, she knows exactly what's going on); the Father is struggling not only emotionally, but socially, as he tries to get answers about his son. This story is a very well-woven tapestry of emotions.
The cinematography is outstanding. The camera is used less as a tool and more as another pair of eyes through which we are looking. That coupled with the excellent art direction and color palettes make the technical merits of this film stand out. During the hospital scenes in the film the doctors all wear white coats, yet look somewhat disheveled, signifying that they are all worked to the bone. The patients are all either wearing gowns or their own clothes, depending on how severe their illness is. On the whole the costuming of this film do perfect service to tell the story. There are a lot of different locations and I would be really interested to know which ones were Sets and which ones are actual locations. It is hard to believe that they shot in a working hospital. However, if the hospital was a sound stage, it looks extremely authentic. This film was shot in Russia and I imagine that Russian hospitals look different from the U.S., but it looks believable and authentic. The background music is fitting. At times it's slow and somber, especially in the low moments where drama and nearing-tragedy are on the move; at other times, the music has elation and light hearted fun, as the kids remember what it's like to live.
The film's main protagonist, Mitya (Aleksey Rodionov), starts the film as a quiet and calm boy, and as the film progresses, he becomes more aware of the inevitability of life, and learns to grasp each moment. Marina (Taisiya Kalinina) is a girl that Mitya meets in the hospital, and who convinces him to escape with her to go on an adventure. She's cocky, brash and bold, the perfect antithesis to Mitya, and she draws out that zest for life in Mitya - though, by the end of the film, she matures and doesn't necessarily lose her spark, but she becomes much more reserved as her own illness progresses and she loses someone close to her. The bus scene is probably my favorite, because it showcases the kids on their own, going for their goal, and little to stop them. As I said, the cinematography and color work of this film are both fantastic elements and I would love to see it on a big screen.
This film's primary message is to not let your current circumstances or hardships get in the way of your will to live, even right up to the end. Life is about to enjoying things and not dwelling on what has, what will, or what might happen.
I give There and Back 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Andrew B., KIDS FIRST!
The story follows a young boy whose illness relapses, and he meets a girl in the hospital who shows him how to keep living despite his sickness.
This film tackles the tough, but not uncommon subjects of mortality, living with a sick family member, and learning to prepare for the end of things, and those are important lessons for youth and families. As a childhood cancer survivor I know firsthand what it's like to be so young and yet so isolated in the sterile, cold halls of a hospital. This film excels at showcasing the different attitudes surrounding that. The kids are too young to fully grasp what's going on but they are becoming more aware (and in the case of the girl, she knows exactly what's going on); the Father is struggling not only emotionally, but socially, as he tries to get answers about his son. This story is a very well-woven tapestry of emotions.
The cinematography is outstanding. The camera is used less as a tool and more as another pair of eyes through which we are looking. That coupled with the excellent art direction and color palettes make the technical merits of this film stand out. During the hospital scenes in the film the doctors all wear white coats, yet look somewhat disheveled, signifying that they are all worked to the bone. The patients are all either wearing gowns or their own clothes, depending on how severe their illness is. On the whole the costuming of this film do perfect service to tell the story. There are a lot of different locations and I would be really interested to know which ones were Sets and which ones are actual locations. It is hard to believe that they shot in a working hospital. However, if the hospital was a sound stage, it looks extremely authentic. This film was shot in Russia and I imagine that Russian hospitals look different from the U.S., but it looks believable and authentic. The background music is fitting. At times it's slow and somber, especially in the low moments where drama and nearing-tragedy are on the move; at other times, the music has elation and light hearted fun, as the kids remember what it's like to live.
The film's main protagonist, Mitya (Aleksey Rodionov), starts the film as a quiet and calm boy, and as the film progresses, he becomes more aware of the inevitability of life, and learns to grasp each moment. Marina (Taisiya Kalinina) is a girl that Mitya meets in the hospital, and who convinces him to escape with her to go on an adventure. She's cocky, brash and bold, the perfect antithesis to Mitya, and she draws out that zest for life in Mitya - though, by the end of the film, she matures and doesn't necessarily lose her spark, but she becomes much more reserved as her own illness progresses and she loses someone close to her. The bus scene is probably my favorite, because it showcases the kids on their own, going for their goal, and little to stop them. As I said, the cinematography and color work of this film are both fantastic elements and I would love to see it on a big screen.
This film's primary message is to not let your current circumstances or hardships get in the way of your will to live, even right up to the end. Life is about to enjoying things and not dwelling on what has, what will, or what might happen.
I give There and Back 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Andrew B., KIDS FIRST!
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