Hindsight

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

Day 100: The Princess Bride (1987)

This is the perfect film to end our little 100 day quest.  The Princess Bride strikes the right chord on so many levels, the film is funny, sweet, extremely well written and acted.  You are safe to watch this with your kid(s) and you will like it yourself!  However, the film is hardly progressive in its approach to gender roles.  The men must still prove their power, and the Princess is decidedly confused about her own abilities.  When I watched this with Joelle and Jacqueline, I opted to pair the film with Brave (2012).  Both The Princess Bride and Brave are wickedly funny, but vastly different in their approaches to gender.  Jacki and Joelle had great insights into how time of production, (the films are 25 years apart) played a factor in how the producers made decisions about plot, characters and motivations.  I do believe that getting children to be conscious viewers means asking questions, and seeing films as ideologically infused artifacts.  Jacqueline and Joelle really get this.  It doesn't ruin their viewing, it gives them tools to understand the politics of communication, even a lovely little comedy such as The Princess Bride. 

Directed by Rob Reiner, the tale is set up with a Grandfather (Peter Falk) reading a story to his sick Grandson (Fred Savage).  In the story, the Grandfather tells of a young woman called Buttercup (Robin Wright) who lives on a farm in the imaginary country of Florin.  She starts to notice that every time she asks her farmhand Westley (Cary Elwes) to do something for her, he always says "As you wish."  She becomes enchanted with the young man and they both eventually fall in love with each other.  Westley leaves to go make his fortune, but Buttercup becomes kidnapped.  The story is about her attempt to escape, and Westley's struggles to find her.  It doesn't sound like a comedy?  Well, it is.  All of the characters are slightly off, and there is a general mood throughout the film that keeps the plot light and yet intriguing.  Just watch out for the 'Cliffs of Insanity'!!!  Chris Sarandon, Many Patinkin, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, & Christopher Guest are just some of the supporting players in this impressive movie, which over the years has become something of a cult hit. Oh, and there are some great songs from Mark Knopfler, very cool.  This film has such a beautiful ending.  When the Westley and Buttercup are finally reunited, the story comes to an end.  The movie goes back to the little boy and his Grandfather.  The Grandfather closes the book and gets up to leave.  The boy however asks him to re- read the story again tomorrow.  The Grandfather's replies, "As you wish."

Themes:  Honor, Traitors, Lies, Reputation, Love
Media Literacy Qeustions for Kids:  Why is this film considered a comedy?  Did you have a favorite scene?  If so, which one and why?  How did the film stick to traditional representations of class and gender?  If you were a filmmaker, how would you include more diverse representations of masculinity and feminity?