I watched this moive one afternoon with my nine year old son. I was fully prepared for questions that my son would raise and we stopped the movie a couple of times to discuss his questions. I would not recommend sharing this morning with most children under 10 unless they are mature enough to ask questions and accept the answers.
Mom.. Why would someone want to hurt an animal? That will be a question that is a natural one for children to raise. A puppy badly injured. Everyone said "this animal has suffered enough, let's help it die" that's how badly this puppy was injured. It would have been mine response as well, but this puppy touched Donna's life when she needed the time and will to heal after she was so severely injured in the dog attack. It's not an easy question to answer, and not one that was answered in this movie. We can't understand the motives behind it, but we can understand that at the base of all the hard things that people do that aren't RIGHT is sin. And this movie allowed me the opportunity to show my son what form that sin can take.
From a puppy being damaged. To a woman scaring her husband badly. To a husband talking harshly.
It also allowed for love to be seen and shown.
A woman showing her fearful heart to her friends and hubby, a husband helping his wife...taking a bold step in helping deal with a her pain and a puppy's pain. A friend walking at her side. Love for hurt animals.
We see both in this movie.
It's not an easy movie to watch. But it's not a bad one.
I can't say that I enjoyed it, but I did appreciate it.
One thing I was happy about... the injured puppy was obviously a fake puppy. I had to stop the movie to show my son how it wasn't a real puppy lying there injured while people told the story (why would they hurt another puppy mom?!?!?!) To my quick response of : "They didn't son.. see? It's not real". Oh.. okay then. they are just pretending so they can tell the story right? Yup. And then later showing how they carefully wrapped up a puppy to look like it was hurt. A happy puppy romping on the grass is not a puppy that the day before was at death's door. It's good to point these things out to younger children.
It was also a good lesson in theatrical makeup and robotics. :) Seeing as he's interested in such things, it's good for a homeschooled child to see the need for it.
Would I have taken him to see this in the theatre? NO. But at home when I can stop and start a movie.. for sure. He's mature enough to think it through and be angry about it and then happy that things are now changed. :)
I reviewed this movie on behalf of FlyBy Promotions.
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