Watch Kids' Reviews of
HAVEN

I love Haven! I loved its honesty about how complicated absent parent relationships can be as well as how it ends with a cliff hanger, reminding us that these situations can never truly be resolved. The storyline follows Anya, who lives with her mom in the countryside caring for abandoned animals. She dreams of going to drama school and becoming an actor. However, she lacks the funds. When her absent father appears in her life offering to help she reaches a crossroad. Take the help and pursue her dream, or stay loyal to her mother but not get a shot at the life she wants. The film is from Russia, by a university student, Victoria Mukhonko, with dialogue in Russian and English subtitles.

The plot is relatable, develops logically and is easy to understand. Even so, it kept me on the edge of my seat because, even though the plot is simple the emotions are complicated and that's what got my attention. The camera work goes above and beyond the normal; it's artistic and uses interesting angles, but even the simple shots convey heavy emotions. Every actor is outstanding; I felt as if I was in the front seat watching an actual family's life. I was almost able to read their minds from the smallest facial expressions. In my opinion, they all deserve an Oscar for their performances. The costumes are simple but effective. You can understand each character's personality through how they dress. This takes place in modern day Moscow, Russia. The scenery is beautiful from the countryside home, to the drama school, to the apartment. The background music is beautiful. It blends in seamlessly, as if it isn't even there while making sure it isn't silent. The director's work stands out. The emotion, the story, and the acting are all brought to life by the director. My favorite part of the film is the cliffhanger ending. It left me introspective and wondering. I love how it isn't conclusive, because these scenarios never are.

This film's message is that family is complicated. People leave; people stay; and you can never know if you made the right decision. I give Haven 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Valerie M., KIDS FIRST!

I love Haven! I loved its honesty about how complicated absent parent relationships can be as well as how it ends with a cliff hanger, reminding us that these situations can never truly be resolved. The storyline follows Anya, who lives with her mom in the countryside caring for abandoned animals. She dreams of going to drama school and becoming an actor. However, she lacks the funds. When her absent father appears in her life offering to help she reaches a crossroad. Take the help and pursue her dream, or stay loyal to her mother but not get a shot at the life she wants. The film is from Russia, by a university student, Victoria Mukhonko, with dialogue in Russian and English subtitles.

The plot is relatable, develops logically and is easy to understand. Even so, it kept me on the edge of my seat because, even though the plot is simple the emotions are complicated and that's what got my attention. The camera work goes above and beyond the normal; it's artistic and uses interesting angles, but even the simple shots convey heavy emotions. Every actor is outstanding; I felt as if I was in the front seat watching an actual family's life. I was almost able to read their minds from the smallest facial expressions. In my opinion, they all deserve an Oscar for their performances. The costumes are simple but effective. You can understand each character's personality through how they dress. This takes place in modern day Moscow, Russia. The scenery is beautiful from the countryside home, to the drama school, to the apartment. The background music is beautiful. It blends in seamlessly, as if it isn't even there while making sure it isn't silent. The director's work stands out. The emotion, the story, and the acting are all brought to life by the director. My favorite part of the film is the cliffhanger ending. It left me introspective and wondering. I love how it isn't conclusive, because these scenarios never are.

This film's message is that family is complicated. People leave; people stay; and you can never know if you made the right decision. I give Haven 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Valerie M., KIDS FIRST!

Anya lives in the countryside with her mother. They take care of homeless animals, but Anya wants more. Her dream is to become an actress. When Anya fails the entrance exam, her father shows up for the first time in her life. Now she faces a difficult choice, as accepting her father's help would mean betraying her mother.