KIDS FIRST! News

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Tiana S. comments, “I laughed, cried, and literally felt every emotion watching this film. It is entertaining from beginning to end. The plot twists and special guest appearances are mind-blowing as well.” Madeleine H. adds, “I love Shazam! Fury of the Gods.  It is lighthearted, super funny and thrilling. Intense battle scenes match the fury of the Gods, yet they are no match for the unity of a “family” of foster kids turned superheroes lead by Shazam (Zachary Levi).” Avani M. adds, “… Zachary Levi makes this movie amazing! He is so funny as Shazam! because he portrays a teenager’s personality so well. He also shows that a superhero can have insecurities too. Helen Mirren is great as Hespera because she plays a very menacing villain…” Katherine S. adds, “This is a mediocre movie that I wasn’t particularly drawn in to. I feel as though it lost sight of the values and characteristics of the first movie. Although it does explore more about the origins of Shazam, the story and character development didn’t engage me as much as I hoped it would.” Zoe C. wraps it up with, “The most heartwarming superhero is back in a bigger and better second installment: Shazam! Fury of the Gods really delivers the goods… and the gods! This film is unique among the DC universe because how it gracefully combines humor with action; is completely relatable and absolutely family oriented entertainment all at once.” See their full reviews and interviews below.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods
By Zoë C, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic age 14

The most heartwarming superhero is back in a bigger and better second installment: Shazam! Fury of the Gods really delivers the goods… and the gods! This film is unique among the DC universe because how it gracefully combines humor with action; is completely relatable and absolutely family oriented entertainment all at once.

The “Shazamily” is back! This film takes off where the first one ended. Billy Batson (Asher Angel) has bestowed powers to his foster brothers and now, as a team, they will fight crime together. However, a great menace comes from the daughters of Atlas, a trio of sisters from the Greek mythology who are battling to take back the God-given powers activated by the word Shazam!

With a great storyline, fueled with lots of humor, themes relatable to teenagers, visually stunning action sequences, lots of heart, a dragon and even unicorns, Shazam! Fury of the Gods is a great option for movie goers like me and evokes the nostalgia of the great family / adventure / fantasy films of the 80s and 90s like Goonies, Jumanji, Flash Gordon and Superman. The special effects really work and I believed in all those creatures that this group of super heroes confronts. In this sequel, the storyline is a bit darker and actor Djiimon Hounsou reprises his role of Shazam with more screen time and funny lines. Acting wise, the Shazamily expands with the presence of Hespera (Helen Mirren), Kalypso (Lucy Liu) and Anthea (Rachel Ziegler) playing the Daughters of Atlas. Mirren brings a lot of gravitas while Liu is always fun to watch and Zegler successfully misleads the audience in her role.

Directing Shazam! Fury of the Gods is David F. Sandberg, who also directed the first film and proves to understand and give life eloquently to this franchise. Zachary Levi is the perfect Shazam; not only he is a great genuine comedian, but also, embodies the hero with contagious enthusiasm. Jack Dylan Grazer really shines in this film as Freddy Freeman, a bigger role and one where he connects so well with the audience.

This film brings to attention the marvelous mission of foster families and the role they play in society. Among the messages of this film are: keep the kid inside of you while you grow up; teamwork is important; the notion of “family” is the one you make and not necessarily the one you were born with.

I give Shazam! Fury of the Gods 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Shazam! Fury of the Gods opens in theaters March 17, 2023.

Shazam: Fury of the Gods
By Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

 Shazam! Just like that, our favorite foster family of heroes is back in Shazam: Fury of the Gods. I laughed, cried, and literally felt every emotion watching this film. It is entertaining from beginning to end. While people tend to be suspicious of sequels, this is well done and is sure to surpass the original. The plot twists and special guest appearances are mind-blowing as well.

Taking place in Philadelphia, Shazam: Fury of the Gods continues the story of Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who turns into his adult superhero alter ego, Shazam (Zachary Levi), when he yells “SHAZAM!” In this sequel, he is pursued by the Daughters of Atlas, who come to Earth to avenge their father’s death and retrieve the magical powers that the wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou) took from their father, Atlas. Joined by his family of fellow superheroes, Billy must defeat the three ancient goddesses in order to save the planet.

Billy Batson/Shazam is the protagonist, but his extended family consisting of Mary (Grace Caroline Murray), “Captain Every Power” Freddie (Jack Dylan Grazer/Adam Brody), Darla (Faithe Herman/Meagan Good), Eugene (Ian Chen/Ross Butler) and Pedro (Jovan Armand/D.J. Cotrona) are just as important to this film. I find it interesting how all the characters aged up and are played by someone else in their hero form except for Mary, who is played by the same person for both the regular and superhero versions of her character. One of my favorite parts is when the heroes write a negotiation letter to the Atlas Sisters and they think Steve, the magical pen, has edited everything they said for him to write. When the sisters receive the letter, it includes all the side conversations, word for word, which makes a hilarious scene. The costumes are Halloween-worthy!  And, of course, you can’t forget about the sand people, lightning and other captivating special effects.

Family is the constant theme throughout Shazam: Fury of the Gods. Billy constantly reminds his family – “All or None” – when it’s time to battle. Together they can take on the world, but when the family is broken it just causes unnecessary drama, and no one wins. Even with the Atlas sisters, while they are powerful, they struggle with sticking together and it causes sibling rivalries amongst them. Parents should be aware of severe foul language, violent scenes, death and some scenes that can be triggering, such as suicide.

I give Shazam: Fury of the Gods 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters March 17, 2023.  Remember to stay for the end credit scenes. 

Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Madeleine H., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

I love Shazam! Fury of the Gods.  It is lighthearted, super funny and thrilling.  Intense battle scenes match the fury of the Gods, yet they are no match for the unity of a “family” of foster kids turned superheroes lead by Shazam (Zachary Levi).

Billy Batson (Asher Angel) is chosen to be a champion of good by Wizard (Djimon Hounsou). With Wizard’s staff, Billy and his foster siblings yell the Wizard’s name, “Shazam,” transforming them all into adult superheroes — each with the five powers of the gods. The magical staff is broken in half, only to be discovered years later in a museum where the daughters of Atlas, Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Lucy Liu) enter the museum to retrieve the staff. They are determined to make it whole, regain the superpowers and restore the realm of the gods.  Once the staff is whole Hespera and Kalyspo are joined by Anthea (Rachel Zegler) to find those who possess its powers and the battle begins.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is full of thundering action, high speed feats of flight and lighthearted good humor. Director, David F. Sandberg pulls all this together with a big cast of great actors that sends a heartwarming message of the importance of family and sticking together.  Freddy (Jack Dylan Glazer) is perfectly awkward, funny and self-deprecating whenever he is around Ann (Anthea).  The superhero adult Freddy (Adam Brody) has all the swagger and self-confidence of twenty guys, but it’s all in vain.  The scenery is amazing!  A favorite of mine is the room that Superhero Pedro (D.J. Cotrona) discovers within the Rock of Eternity where books fly and the superheroes meet Steve—a smart pen!  This really highlights the stunning CGI work that is used throughout the film.  Buildings shapeshift; the dragon is electrifying; a tree of life grows at great speed to an immense size; cyclops and minotaurs and unicorns are in abundance;  there is so much visual artistry. The visuals and action are tied together with great sound effects and an engaging musical score.  The superhero costumes unify them as each one has a color that makes them unique. The battle-ready costumes of Hespera and Kalypso are fierce, right down to the shoes, while sister Anthea is softer and more goddess-like. Her look glows like her warmth, from within.

The importance of family, good or bad, is a prominent theme in Shazam! Fury of the Gods.  I find this message influential and heartwarming. “All or none – that’s the rule!” You should know that there is quite a lot of profanity and fighting.

I give Shazam! Fury of the Gods 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theatres March 17, 2023.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods
By Avani M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 10

I enjoyed Shazam! Fury of the Gods a lot, because of its interesting and exciting story line and because of the soundtrack which makes the movie intense. Also, it is quite amusing and entertaining.

The story is set in Philadelphia around a family of six misfit foster children and teenagers. These foster kids are actually superheroes, led by Shazam! (Zachary Levi) to save the city. The villains are the Daughters of Atlas, Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalyplso (Lucy Liu). Hespera wants her “god powers” back and wants everything to be just again, but Kalypso wants much more. The villains first try to take the powers from the superheroes, so Shazam! leads them to a secret lair to strategize on how to defeat the sisters.

This film is so fun and exciting and Zachary Levi makes this movie amazing! He is so funny as Shazam! because he portrays a teenager’s personality so well. He also shows that a superhero can have insecurities too. Helen Mirren is great as Hespera because she plays a very menacing villain; even Shazam! says so. Finally, the young actors all give great performances, especially when they act as if they are regular teens when they are not in superhero mode. The theme of this film is to believe in yourself. There is a time when Shazam! says that he won’t be able to defeat the villains and wants to give his powers back to the Wizard (Djimon Hounsou). However, the superhero ultimately prevails. We learn that even “everyday normal people,” with no apparent talents, have powers. They just have to find their power within themselves, because everyone should be given a chance to prove themselves. I really like the special effects, especially the different realms, dragons and monsters. Hats off to Director David F. Sandberg. The dragon’s CGI is especially nice because it looks very frightening. The last thing that I really like are the fight scenes — they look so realistic.

The messages of this film are about believing in yourself and the importance of teamwork. The villains are too strong for anyone alone, so it’s essential for the superheroes to work together. Plus, the gods are arrogant, and teamwork always beats arrogance.  You should know that there is some profanity and some scary monsters.

I give Shazam! Fury of the Gods 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters March 17, 2023. Remember to stay for the credits because there are two extra scenes.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods
By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

The hilarious Shazam-fam kids-turned-superheroes are back after four years of waiting! Shazam! Fury of the Gods is an entertaining and exciting sequel to the original Shazam! I like how the movie incorporates Greek mythology into the plot and explains the backstory of the powers and name of Shazam in this movie.

A few years after the first movie, we find Billy Batson (Asher Angel), aka Shazam (Zachary Levi) and his siblings still trying to balance being superheroes and teenagers. When the three angry daughters of Atlas come to seek revenge on humans, the fate of Philadelphia and the world is in their hands.

I recommend watching the first movie in this series before watching Shazam! Fury of the Gods, because it may be confusing otherwise. If you are fan of the first film, you will probably enjoy this one, but it doesn’t live up to the original. This is a mediocre movie that I wasn’t particularly drawn in to. I feel as though it lost sight of the values and characteristics of the first movie. Although it does explore more about the origins of Shazam, the story and character development didn’t engage me as much as I hoped it would. I do like how it relies less on topics, characters and plot points from other DCEU (DC Extended Universe) movies and I do love the humor. The clever writing and comedic timing helps lighten up some of the heavy scenes and makes this movie a Shazam! movie.

My favorite performances are from Zachary Levi, as Shazam and Jack Dylan Grazer, as Freddy. Zachary Levi as the alter ego of Billie Batson perfectly captures the essence of an immature, irresponsible and bad-decision-making teenager trapped in a superhero’s body. Jack Dylan Grazer has the best execution of his role out of all the kids. He’s genuine, sweet and witty. The chemistry between Zachary and Jack is as strong as Shazam himself, which made me enjoy the comedic relief we get from both of them even more.

The message of Shazam! Fury of the Gods is that you can find your own family. Do take note that the film has plenty of profanity and superhero violence.

I give Shazam! Fury of the Gods 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters March 17, 2023.

The Magician’s Elephant follows young Peter, who is searching for his long-lost sister, and crosses paths with a fortune teller in the market square. There is only one question on his mind: is his sister still alive? The answer — that he must follow a mysterious elephant — sets Peter off on a remarkable journey to complete three seemingly impossible tasks that magically change the face of his town forever. The Magician’s Elephant is based on Newbery Award-winning author Kate DiCamillo’s classic novel.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Avalon N. comments, “The Magician’s Elephant is a magnificent movie that totally transports you to the world of the story. It is one of my favorite animated movies that I’ve ever seen. The message of this film is to never give up hope because you never know what may come along to change your situation.” Keila V. adds, “I absolutely recommend watching this astounding film! The Magician’s Elephant is so well-done that it made me and my whole family get very emotional. The animation of this film is wondrous; the visual effects are glorious, beautiful and realistic.” See their full reviews and interviews below.

The Magician’s Elephant
By Avalon N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

The Magician’s Elephant is a magnificent movie that totally transports you to the world of the story. It is one of my favorite animated movies that I’ve ever seen.

This movie is about a young boy named Peter (Noah Jupe). He lives with a retired veteran of war who saved him in battle. The veteran, unfortunately, had to leave Peter’s sister, and she was blown up in an explosion. However, things take a turn when Peter sees a fortune teller who tells him his sister is still alive and to find her he must follow a magician’s elephant. When Peter tries to take the elephant, the king challenges him with three impossible tasks, and then after he performs those tasks — and only then — he will get the elephant.

The Magician’s Elephant has many notable characteristics, one of which is the animation style. Overall, the animation is flawless and very realistic. However, the clouds are one thing that doesn’t look quite as realistic, even though there is a real cloud formation called Mammatus Storm Clouds. There are also many cool locations, like narrow, twisting streets, and interesting characters throughout the film.

One of my favorite parts of the movie is when the veteran has Peter march around his house saying, “Fish is small. Bread is stale. Life is not a fairy tale.” It is a very comedic moment. Another part that is very impressive is how they bring the story full circle, starting and ending with the fortune teller. Her main role is to tie together the whole story, which could make her the most important character of all. 

The message of this film is to never give up hope because you never know what may come along to change your situation.

I give The Magician’s Elephant 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. It is available in select theaters on March 10, 2023 and on Netflix on March 17, 2023. 

The Magician’s Elephant
By Keila V., KIDS FIRST!, Film Critic, age 11

The Magician’s Elephant is an exceptional film that also provides a very important, valuable life lesson and it is a perfect movie to watch with family or close friends.

The story follows an orphan boy named Peter (Noah Jupe) who loses his sister at a very young age. Peter has always wanted to meet again with his sister but she has been lost since a newborn. Both of his parents passed away in a war and, ever since then, a strict and old soldier has taken care of Peter. On one special day Peter goes to the market to buy a small fish and stale bread, as that is what Peter and the soldier have for dinner every night, but instead of Peter buying dinner Peter spends his money on a fortune teller to answer his lifelong question. He asks, “Where can I find my sister?” and the fortune teller’s response is “Follow the Elephant…”

I absolutely recommend watching this astounding film! The Magician’s Elephant is so well-done that it made me and my whole family get very emotional. The animation of this film is wondrous; the visual effects are glorious, beautiful and realistic. The special effects are extraordinary — I love how all the colors and scenes match the storyline so incredibly well. My favorite scene is when the magician (Benedict Wong) brings the elephant back to the animal’s habitat and we realize that Peter is also helping another family get back together. This shows that Peter is not selfish at all. Peter is a kind-hearted soul who deserves to be reunited with his sister. He wants to find his sister so badly and so he obeys whatever the fortune teller tells him to do like, follow the Elephant, which he does. To get to the elephant Peter has to complete three impossible tasks given to him by the King. If Peter completes the three tasks he will earn the right to have the elephant and that will lead him to his dream. You will have to watch to see if Peter’s dream comes true!

The film’s message is to always care and love your family because, if you don’t have them, then who do you have to love? Another message is to always have hope for whatever you do or believe.

I give The Magician’s Elephant 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. It is available in theaters now and releases on Netflix March 17, 2023.

After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian – a fighter who has nothing to lose. Creed III is the third installment in the successful franchise and is Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Maica N. comments, “Creed III is a movie that is carried by its acting. With a combination of seasoned and up-and-coming actors, the scenes are more meaningful than ever. In his directorial debut, Michael B. Jordan stars in a movie that had me invested from the start, though to the very end.” Emma D. adds, “Creed III is a thrilling movie that lives up to expectations and definitely impressed me. However, due to its thrilling fight scenes and serious topics, it may be a difficult watch for younger kids.” See their full reviews and interviews below.

Creed III
|Maica N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 15

Creed III is a movie that is carried by its acting. With a combination of seasoned and up-and-coming actors, the scenes are more meaningful than ever. In his directorial debut, Michael B. Jordan stars in a movie that had me invested from the start, though to the very end.

After officially retiring from boxing, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been focusing on his family and his career as a businessman. When he is greeted unexpectedly by his childhood friend Dame (Jonathan Majors), a former boxer who spent 18 years in prison, Adonis is also reminded of his tough past. Dame is insistent on getting another chance to box, enlisting Adonis for help. When Adonis realizes there is more to Dame’s plan than just boxing again, he is forced to face him in a battle that is more than just a fight.

Creed III focuses on its main plot and doesn’t rely on subplots to move the story forward. There are ideas introduced in the movie that could’ve become more significant elements such as Amara’s school situation, but instead, it sticks to the primary conflict, making it easy to follow along with the storyline. The dynamic between Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors creates a sense of tension within the movie and creates a much larger reaction when there are plot twists, which there are.

Adonis and Bianca’s (Tessa Thompson) daughter Amara (Mila Davis-Kent) is such a good addition to the storyline, and her character creates a feeling of love that is palpable. Having the entire family understanding sign language and using that to communicate brings them closer together, which translates to the audience.

Creed III is Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut, and the setup of this movie conveys its message incredibly well. In the final fight scene, we see Adonis and Dame in the ring alone – symbolizing the two being together since their childhood, as brothers. Neither of them can believe their relationship has come to the point where they are here, against each other. This scene shows the vulnerability of both characters and provides both points of view. The fight choreography, the silence of the scene, the visual effects, and deeper meaning make the final fight one to remember.

The primary message of Creed III is that the only way to resolve a conflict is to face it, rather than run away from it. Even though Adonis is scared to face his past because of his guilt, he realizes that facing it is the only way to truly move on. There are some profanity and violent scenes within the movie, which explains its PG-13 rating.

Creed III gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You can find Creed III in theaters on March 3, 2023. Make sure you check it out!

Creed III
By Emma D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Creed III is a thrilling movie that lives up to expectations and definitely impressed me. However, due to its thrilling fight scenes and serious topics, it may be a difficult watch for younger kids.

Creed III takes place seven years after Creed II and follows Adonis Creed (Michael B Jordan) as a retired boxer and a father to his daughter Amara (Mila Davis Kent). Everything changes when a childhood friend resurfaces and brings back problems from Adonis’s past, which makes Adonis question everything.

Michael B. Jordan is undoubtedly the best part of the movie. Creed III is his directorial debut and it’s a great start to what I believe will be an amazing directing career. Since I hadn’t seen the first two films in this series I was concerned that I wasn’t going to understand the plot, but Creed III stands on its own and references the first two films without giving anything away.

The movie is captivating and is beautifully shot. Jordan makes clear distinctions between good and bad with both costume design and cinematography. Kramer Morgenthau’s cinematography is beautiful, especially in the fight sequences. The relationship between Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) and Damien (Jonathan Majors) is super compelling, but a little predictable. One thing that is lacking is the backstory about why Damien went to jail, which made me wonder what really happened.  The movie is centered on boxing and can get a little violent. It’s actually a lot more violent than I expected and there were many times when I had to look away. 

Creed III promotes self-confidence and communicating with people you love. It also emphasizes not using physical violence in difficult situations, which is important in a movie that revolves around fighting.  There is a lot of profanity used and many violent and graphic fight scenes. The film also covers serious topics including death, abuse and prison.

I give Creed III 5 out 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters March 3, 2023.

Woody Harrelson stars in the hilarious and heartwarming story of a former minor-league basketball coach who, after a series of missteps, is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined. 

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Mikells G. comments, “Champions is a heartwarming emotional film. Its inspiring story definitely is a tear-jerker, and makes me think twice about my future life choices.” Miguel C. adds, “Champions is a super funny movie, and I had a good time watching it. In this film you see a lot of inclusivity for people with disabilities and Down’s Syndrome.” See their full reviews below.

Champions
By Mikella G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Champions is a heartwarming emotional film. Its inspiring story definitely is a tear-jerker, and makes me think twice about my future life choices.

The storyline of Champions revolves around the life of Marcus (Woody Harrelson) whose biggest dream is to become an NBA basketball coach. However, he can’t seem to get past the J leagues. After a continual tiring frustration, one night it really affects him and he foolishly drinks, drives and gets caught. Marcus is now stuck with 90 days of community service, where he is assigned to coach basketball to kids with disabilities. Throughout this process he learns what it’s really like to truly see people and connect with them.

Something that stands about this film is its storyline which is comedic, heartwarming and sentimental all in one. Although the film is very deep and moving, it still has a relaxed fun feeling to it. For instance all of the characters’ personalities are very calming and make you feel good. I really enjoyed the strong characters; each has its own unique personality and backstory while still coming together to tell the group’s story. Lastly, the message throughout the film is truly outstanding and moving. It not only teaches viewers the importance of what it really means to be a winner, but emphasizes how acceptance is extremely important. Moreover, the film highlights those with disabilities in ways that the average person might never see. It shows how they live in unison with us and that, in the end, we are all just humans with vulnerable hearts.

The message of Champions is that, in life winning doesn’t always mean coming in first place, and that there are many different meanings of winning. This film does include some inappropriate language and sexual content.

I give Champions 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You can watch Champions in theaters on March 10, 2023.

Champions
By Miguel C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

Champions is a super funny movie, and I had a good time watching it. In this film you see a lot of inclusivity for people with disabilities and Down’s Syndrome.

The story begins with Marcus (Woody Harrelson) and Alex (Kaitlin Olson) spending the night together and we see Marcus watching a basketball game. Then we find out that Marcus works with a professional basketball team as the assistant to Coach Phil Perretti (Ernie Hudson). Marcus always wants the best for the team but when he tells the coach to change the positions, the coach says no, and Marcus gets physical. What happens next? You’ll have to see the film to find out. 

Champions uses a lot of dark toned colors, which makes it seem sad.  The actors are very strong; my favorite is Madison Tevlin for in how she plays the mean girl role as Consentino  — it makes everything way more fun. She has a way of coming off as mean but then steals your heart when you find out she always does it to help and give back to the team. We also see how united and like a family the team is.  What I really like about it this film is that they raise awareness for people with disabilities. The finale is very funny, too.

The message of this film is that we are all humans going through our own things, and yet, no matter what happens, we have to stick together. There is a lot of sexual talk and some heavy kissing scenes, so I would look out for that for younger children.  We also hear a lot of racial comments.

I give Champions 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Champions comes out on theaters March 10, 2023. 

 [AW1]See the phone?

Rural Ireland 1981. A quiet, neglected girl is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with foster parents for the summer. She blossoms in their care, but in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, “Filled with pathos, The Quiet Girl is a beautiful film with a smartly-written screenplay and luminous cinematography. The story keeps you enthralled, and, by the end, audiences will understand that melancholy and silence don’t always go together.” Emma D. adds, “The Quiet Girl is, by far, one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. I commend the director, Colm Bairéad, for showcasing the dazzling scenery of Ireland. This film is mainly spoken in Gaelic and I had to rely on the subtitles to understand the plot, which made it a little hard to connect with at times.” See their full reviews below.

The Quiet Girl
By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Filled with pathos, The Quiet Girl is a beautiful film with a smartly-written screenplay and luminous cinematography. The story keeps you enthralled, and, by the end, audiences will understand that melancholy and silence don’t always go together.

Set in rural Ireland and one of a dying breed of Irish-language films, The Quiet Girl is based on Claire Keegan’s short story “Foster” and a riff on the famous 1952 Oscar®-award-winning John Ford film The Quiet Man. Nine-year-old Cait (Catherine Clinch) is withdrawn; she lives with her neglectful parents, sisters, and baby brother. Her tired parents send her to the Cinnsealach family (her maternal aunt and uncle). Eibhlin and Sean Cinnsealach (Carrie Crowley and Andrew Bennett) differ in how they accept Cait, but both share a sense of compassion and yet deep loss, too. The film takes its time to reveal exactly what the root of this sense of loss is and does so elegantly. Through her time with the Cinnsealachs, Cait realizes the true meaning of family, kindness and care.

Director Colm Bairéad has achieved a commendable task by making nearly the whole film in Irish Gaelic, an endangered language that Bairéad wants to promote globally. The cast carry the film with their understated performances, which are, like everything else in the film “quiet” and subtle. Clinch’s honesty in her portrayal of the withdrawn, nuanced Cait shines through. I also have a soft spot for Carrie Crowley and Andrew Bennett. Crowley’s motherly kindness is like a tight hug for viewers. Bennett’s character is much colder than Crowley’s toward Cait initially, but Bennett uses his prowess to transform his character from an antagonist to a flawed supporting character easily. I love the cinematography and the film as well. The way the endless fields, slurry pit, and beaten country roads were filmed seems to emanate a sense of peace and has a unique luster. The music in the film is subtle, which also adds to the “quiet” feeling of the film, as does the laconic script, which focuses more on the characters’ bonds than the words coming out of their mouths, making for a deeply meaningful viewing experience.

The Quiet Girl promotes kindness, acceptance and the power of silence. In terms of parental warnings, Cait runs off a few times in the film but always returns to the Cinnsealach home.

I give The Quiet Girl 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The Quiet Girl releases in theaters nationwide on February 24, 2023.

The Quiet Girl
By Emma Defot, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

The Quiet Girl is a beautiful film with amazing cinematography that surely captivated me. Although the movie is beautiful, due to it plot and language it may be a difficult watch for younger kids.

The film is set in rural Ireland in the early 1980s and follows the story of Cait (Catherine Clinch), a nine-year-old girl, who is sent away from her dysfunctional family for the summer. Her family is overcrowded and poor, which results in Cait trying to hide in plain site from those around her. When she arrives at a distant relative’s house for the summer, she thrives under their car and, overtime discovers one painful truth, which may change everything.

The Quiet Girl is, by far, one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. I commend the director, Colm Bairéad, for showcasing the dazzling scenery of Ireland. This film is mainly spoken in Gaelic and I had to rely on the subtitles to understand the plot, which made it a little hard to connect with at times. Catherine Clinch gives an amazing and heart-moving performance, and is definitely the highlight of the film. The best parts are definitely the parts with Sean (Andrew Bennett), Cait’s foster father, and Cait which are heartwarming and a contrast to Cait’s relationship with her father. The relationship takes longer to develop than Cait’s relationship with her stepmother and thus comes across as more meaningful. The movie is a bit slow at times, but still captured me.

The Quiet Girl shows the importance of love and warmth from others, in adults and especially in kids. You should know that the film covers many serious topics such as abuse and death, which make it unsuitable for younger audiences.

I give The Quiet Girl 3 out 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters February 24, 2023.