For children from the age of 9
Children's knowledge grows all the time, not only under the influence of school and formal learning, but most of all due to their spontaneous curiosity about everything surrounding them. Films which can bring out that curiosity are a valuable tool on the path of maturation and learning. The prerequisite for this is of course that the content and form of the film are appropriate for children, compatible with their age as well as their development characteristics and needs. As a child develops, genres vary in popularity, and older children will be able to receive significantly more information, which is why the time they spend attending to the medium of film increases. But at all times they find interesting those topics which are central to their current stage in life.
Between the fourth and sixth years of primary school, children as film viewers find themselves standing at the crossroads: although they are already consuming films intended for adults, they still have their hearts set on animation (something they will not admit easily because in their mindset animation is intended for small children). This is the moment when they can be offered a different perspective of animation film and taught to recognize its artistic and substantive value.
Quality animation films contain a number of elements children find attractive: they are entertaining, exciting, they have their heroes who relentlessly withstand the stronger, bigger and mean to save themselves, their friends or the whole planet, such films provide unexpected twists, accidents causing general confusion, and similar elements which are essential to child humour. The appropriate dramaturgy introduces thrill and clash between good and evil into the story, which always creates excitement and heightened expectations.
At this age, prophecies, myths, secrets and great adventures are at the centre of the children's experiential world, which is why the film Raining Cats and Frogs is sure to appeal to them. Its conflict and denouement will inspire their imagination even after the screening and we should later be prepared to talk about what they have seen and experienced. The ability to analyze the content of a film and your own feelings is a lifetime treasure.
Martina Peštaj
Prerokba žab / La prophétie des grenouilles / Raining Cats and Frogs
Jacques-Rémy Girerd (Folimage - Patrick Eveno, Jacques-Rémy Girerd)
Francija / France, 2003, 90', slovenski in angleški podnapisi / Slovenian and English subtitle
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