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BLIND FLYERS, THE

This film is very heartwarming and is the perfect example of what kind of movies should be shown during "Family Movie Nights." Marie has such a big heart that I could not help but empathize with her when she struggles with her problems with her blindness and music.

In the film, two best friends named Marie and Inga attend a German boarding school for the blind led by a man named Mr. Karl. Due to their musical talents, they audition for a school band but due to their blindness, are rejected. A plot twist arrives in the form of a young man from Kazakhstan named Herbert who is hiding from the police. The movie takes off when this boy develops relationships with the two girls, particularly Marie, and the film illustrates the teens' struggles to create a successful band.

One of the best parts of the film is when the audience finally gets to hear Marie sing. This occurs near the end. It is significant because, throughout the film, there are little glimpses of her lovely singing voice but it we don't year it completely until the end. Another memorable part of the movie is when Herbert asks if he can "see" Marie as a blind person does to a "lookie." This is particularly touching, because it shows his character's development and also because it shows how he genuinely wants to be able to see the world through her eyes.

Despite most of the characters being young teens, every actor, especially Ricarda Ram�nke, play their parts very convincingly. She plays Marie and her acting is so perfect that I loved her from her very first scene. The boy who portrays Herbert, Oleg Rabcuk, also plays his part flawlessly. He seamlessly went from appearing careless like a typical teenager in one scene to sensitive and delicate in the next.

The main message of the film is that people can overcome adversities to get what they want to achieve. This does not only refer to being handicapped or blind but it also refers to situations such as unfortunate living conditions or bad pasts. It was very inspiring to me because it made me realize that if I set my mind to anything, I can persevere and reach my goals.

The music and the lighting suit the film perfectly. The music is instrumental and it climaxes at just the right moments to set a mood and emotion in the audience. The lighting instills a mood particularly the darker lit portions which draw in the viewer. Without these unparalleled aspects the movie would not resonate as well with the audience, nor would it be as realistic.

This movie definitely fits the KIDS FIRST! criteria due to its inspiring messages about the world, teenagers and experiences. I give this movie four out of five stars and recommend it for children ages 10 to 14. Overall, this movie is very satisfying and I enjoyed it very much. Reviewed by Carissa P, age 15.

This is a wonderful coming-of-age film for young teens. The story takes place at a boarding school in Germany where the students are both blind and sighted. The two main characters are blind girls who are talented musically and meet up with a young street kid and together they enter a band contest in order to get money for the boy to get back to his home country. It is a delight to watch the young heroine and this boy develop a friendship, particularly as he begins to understand some of the issues involved with losing one's sight. The ways that the girls manipulate their school's caretaker and get help and support from a very caring teacher keeps you rooting for their success. The film has a unique subject matter and main characters, delving into a world in which most young teens have not been exposed. It depicts young blind girls as independent and daring young people. We see them develop as capable, independent young women who just happen to be blind. This is a "quiet" film, in a lovely setting, without constant dialogue. The story draws you in. It seems quite realistic and believable. The characters have positive relationships with one another. Even when they are skirting their school's rules, it is for a good cause. Some of the negative behavior from minor characters teasing the blind girls, is just part of the story and shows the girl's resilience to this. This film, made in Germany with English sub-titles is visually appealing. It takes place mostly during winter and into spring and you the cold is almost tangible. The music and dialogue are calming. The menu allows easy access to individual chapters. I think this gives young people a different perspective on how well a handicapped individual can manage on their own in the world. It is so pleasant compared to all the loud action films directed towards the teen audience. Hopefully, young people would think about treating one another rather than the bullying behavior that is so prevalent today.

Two musically gifted teenagers in Germany, from a school for the blind, work together to help Herbert, a runaway "lookie" (sighted person) return to Kazakhstan. Romance blooms as the three create a band and enter a televised music video contest. In German with English subtitles.