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Image from New York International Children's Film Festival |
Taking a break from the animated, fictional films at New York International Children's Film Festival, I took the chance to screen a documentary. Curtain Up follows at 5th grade class as PS 124 in New York City as they prepare for their upcoming musical production. Filmed in English with Mandarin subtitles, the students in the film wrestle with their own insecurities, cultural stereotypes, family expectations, and, you know, being kids!
Curtain Up - Movie Review
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Image from New York International Children's Film Festival |
As a lifelong educator, this movie touched me quite a bit. The documentary follows 4th and 5th graders at PS 124 in New York City as the theater club works on a production of Frozen Kids. Throughout the movie, there are several things that jumped out me. First, the film serves as a great reminder of the power of educators. In the documentary, the role of the principal and teachers in believing in these kids and seeing possibilities and potential to break expectations and stereotypes is what really sets the stage for the success story that is what these kids are able to accomplish.
The documentary also takes a deeper look into the families of the students and cultural expectations. Through interviews with the parents and kids together, you get insight into why theater is not something traditionally looked at as an option for Asian American kids and how these kids are truly shattering stereotypes. There's also the experience that is captured in the documentary that is universal to late elementary school students - that coming of age time where they are wrestling with their own expectations, their families expectations, and what their peers think as well.
Curtain Up is a great documentary to inspire and uplift!
Check out more coverage from the 2021 New York International Children's Film Festival!
About Curtain Up (From NYICFF)
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Image from New York International Children's Film Festival |
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