Hindsight

Classic kids, or 100 films that the kids in your life have to see by 13 or else!

Day 95:  Whistle Down the Wind (1961)

An excellent British film from the early 1960s, a period when British cinema was having a bit of a revival, but mostly in the "Kitchen-Sink" Dramas, you know the angry young man stuff with Richard Burton and other rough voiced poets of the stage.  This film contains an element of masculine intrique in the character of an escaped man, but besides this person, the narrative is in the hands of the children.  the plot follows a group of Lancashire farm kids, who one day come upon a fugitive ( the character of Blakey) using a barn as a refuge.  Because the man is bearded, the children come to believe he is Jesus Christ.  The fugitive lets the children think he is Jesus, because he knows they will protect him.  The police are after the man, for murder.    Eventually, other children in the neighborhood, come to know about the 'secret' and unwillingly the he becomes exposed.  Having developed a fond relationship with the children, Blakey surrenders peaceably.  When he is taken a way, one of the older kids is approached by a couple kindergarden age children who say they want to see Jesus.  She says " You have missed him, but he will be back one day."  Okay, this film is heavy on the christian allegories, when Blakey gives up, he stretches his arms out in a mock crucifixion pose;  but even from my heathen perspective, it is still a delightful little film.  Why?  Because the story focuses on the children's kindness, and lack of judgement in contrast to many of the adults in the film who are suspicious and often cruel.  I found the contrast between the innocent and the jaded truly facinating, sad and yet also believable.

The film stars a young Hayley Mills, with Alan Bates (also young in his way) as the fugitive.  This film was wildly successful in Britain, not sure why it didn't translate here in the states.  Another note, how fun is it to see Britain in the early 1960s, the way the kids dressed, the cars, the police uniforms, brilliant!

Media Literacy Questions for kids:  What places this film in the middle century?  How does the plot parallel scenes/stories within the bible?  If you were not christian could you enjoy this film?  Why do the children seem wiser than the adults?

Themes:  Kindness, Protection, Loyalty, Betrayal, Teamwork.