Films about childhood are a powerful way to explore the complexities and nuances of growing up. These films often capture the innocence, joy, and challenges that come with navigating the world as a child. They allow us to reflect on our own childhood experiences and evoke a sense of nostalgia. Here are some existing films about childhood that have made a significant impact in the film industry:
“Boyhood”, 2014
Director: Richard Linklater
Directed by Richard Linklater, “Boyhood” follows the life of Mason Evans Jr. from childhood to adulthood. Filmed over the course of 12 years, the movie beautifully captures the essence of growing up and the passage of time.
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Lorelei Linklater, Libby Villari, Elijah Smith, Steven Chester Prince, Bonnie Cross, Sydney Orta, Marco Perella, Jamie Howard, Andrew Villarreal, Shane Graham, Tess Allen, Ryan Power, Sharee Fowler, Mark Finn, Charlie Sexton, Byron Jenkins, Holly Moore, David Blackwell, Barbara Chisholm, Matthew Martinez-Arndt, Cassidy Johnson, Cambell Westmoreland, Jennifer Griffin, Garry Peters, Merrilee McCommas, Tamara Jolaine, Jordan Howard, Andrew Bunten, Tyler Strother, Evie Thompson, Brad Hawkins, Savannah Welch, Mika Odom, Sinjin Venegas, Nick Krause, Derek Chase Hickey, Angela Rawna, Megan Devine, Jenni Tooley, Landon Collier, Roland Ruiz, Richard Jones, Karen Jones, Gordon Friday, Tom McTigue, Sam Dillon, Martel Summers;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 166 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “Boyhood” on the website imdb.com
“Stand by Me”, 1986
Director: Rob Reiner
Based on a novella by Stephen King, this coming-of-age film directed by Rob Reiner follows a group of four boys as they embark on a journey to find a dead body. It explores the bond of friendship and the loss of innocence.
Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cusack, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Riley, Bradley Gregg, Jason Oliver Lipsett, Marshall Bell, Frances Lee McCain, Bruce Kirby, William Bronder, Scott Beach, Madeleine Swift, Popeye, Geanette Bobst, Art Burke, Matt Williams, Andy Lindberg, Dick Durock, O.B. Babbs, Charlie Owens, Kenneth Hodges, John Hodges, Susan Thorpe, Korey Scott Pollard, Rick Elliott, Kent W. Luttrell, Chance Quinn, Jason Naylor, Sky Siewerski;
Production year: 1986;
Genre: drama, adventure, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 89 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Stand by Me” on the website imdb.com
“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”, 1982
Director: Steven Spielberg
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this iconic film tells the heartwarming story of a young boy named Elliott who befriends an alien stranded on Earth. It beautifully captures the magic and wonder of childhood imagination.
Starring: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace-Stone, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, K.C. Martel, Sean Frye, C. Thomas Howell, Erika Eleniak, David M. O'Dell, Richard Swingler, Frank Toth, Robert Barton, Michael Darrell, David Berkson, David Carlberg, Milt Kogan, Alexander Lampone, Rhoda Makoff, Robert Murphy, Richard Pesavento, Tom Sherry, Susan Cameron, Will Fowler Jr., Barbara Hartnett, Diane Lampone, Mary Stein, Mitch Suskin, Alex Daniels, Ted Grossman, Jean-Paul Hellendall, Kevin Jessup, James Kahn, Michael Lepre, Anne Lockhart, Gary Ordog, Lori Randolph, Chuck Riley, Robert W. Scholler, Quinn Smith, Jonathan Wasserberger, Richard S. Weisman, Pat Welsh, Debra Winger;
Production year: 1982;
Genre: science fiction, family, drama;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” on the website imdb.com
“The Goonies”, 1985
Director: Richard Donner
Directed by Richard Donner, this adventure-comedy film follows a group of young misfits who embark on a treasure hunt to save their homes from foreclosure. It is a fun and nostalgic film that celebrates the spirit of childhood adventure.
Starring: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton, Ke Huy Quan, John Matuszak, Robert Davi, Joe Pantoliano, Anne Ramsey, Lupe Ontiveros, Mary Ellen Trainor, Keith Walker, Curt Hanson, Steve Antin, Paul Tuerpe, George Robotham, Charles McDaniel, Elaine Cohen McMahon, Michael Paul Chan, Bill Bradley, Jeb Stuart Adams, Eric Briant Wells, Gene Ross, Max Segar, Newt Arnold, Jack O'Leary, Patrick Cameron, Orwin C. Harvey, Ted Grossman, Eydie Faye, Rick Kuhn, Cyndi Lauper, Jennie Lew Tugend, Lisa Quan, Keenan Wynn;
Production year: 1985;
Genre: comedy, adventure, family;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 114 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “The Goonies” on the website imdb.com
“Moonrise Kingdom”, 2012
Director: Wes Anderson
Directed by Wes Anderson, this quirky film tells the story of two young lovers who run away together, leading to a search party being organized on their small island community. It is a whimsical and visually stunning exploration of first love and the desire for independence.
Starring: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bob Balaban, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Harvey Keitel, Jake Ryan, Christopher Alan, Lucas Hedges, Charlie Kilgore, Andreas Sheikh, Chandler Frantz, Robert Hadlock, L.J. Foley, Gabriel Rush, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Tommy Nelson, Larry Pine, Marianna Bassham, Neal Huff, Eric Chase Anderson, Tanner Flood, Wyatt Ralff, Max Derderian, Hugo DeAscentis, Liz Callahan, James Demler, Christine Noel, Jean-Michael Pion, John Peet, Carolyn Pickman, Ada-nicole Sanger, Isabella Guinness, Violet Guinness, Caris Yeoman, Lily Tiger McEnerney, Kevin DeCoste, Tyler Metivier, Cooper Murray, Coledyn Garrow, Ben Haffner, Michael Malvesti, Richie Conant, Johnathon Deneault, Hansel Jack Hartman, Alex Milne;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: family, comedy, drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 90 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
“Nuovo Cinema Paradiso”, 1988
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, this Italian film follows the journey of Salvatore, a young boy who develops a deep love for cinema while working in a movie theater. It is a nostalgic and heartfelt tribute to the power of film and the impact it can have on our lives.
Starring: Philippe Noiret, Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi, Jacques Perrin, Antonella Attili, Enzo Cannavale, Isa Danieli, Leo Gullotta, Pupella Maggio, Agnese Nano, Leopoldo Trieste, Tano Cimarosa, Nicola Di Pinto, Roberta Lena, Nino Terzo, Nellina Laganà, Turi Giuffrida, Mariella Lo Giudice, Giorgio Libassi, Beatrice Palme, Ignazio Pappalardo, Angela Leontini, Mimmo Mignemi, Margherita Mignemi, Giuseppe Pellegrino, Turi Killer, Angelo Tosto, Concetta Borpagano, Franco Catalano, Brigitte Fossey;
Production year: 1988;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 124 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
“Whale Rider”, 2002
Director: Niki Caro
Directed by Niki Caro, this New Zealand drama tells the story of a young Maori girl named Paikea who challenges traditional gender roles and fights to fulfill her destiny as the leader of her tribe. It is a beautiful exploration of culture, identity, and the strength of a young girl's spirit.
Starring: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa, Mana Taumaunu, Rachel House, Taungaroa Emile, Tammy Davis, Mabel Wharekawa, Rawinia Clarke, Tahei Simpson, Roi Taimana, Elizabeth Skene, Tyronne White, Taupua Whakataka-Brightwell, Tenia McClutchie-Mita, Peter Patuwai, Rutene Spooner, Riccardo Davis, Apiata Whangaparita-Apanui, John Sumner, Sam Woods, Pura Tangira, Jane O'Kane, Aumuri Parata-Haua;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: drama, family;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 101 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Whale Rider” on the website imdb.com
“The Florida Project”, 2017
Director: Sean Baker
Directed by Sean Baker, this film follows the life of a precocious six-year-old girl named Moonee and her adventures in the shadow of Disney World. It delves into the harsh realities of poverty and the resilience of childhood innocence.
Starring: Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Valeria Cotto, Christopher Rivera, Willem Dafoe, Caleb Landry Jones, Macon Blair, Aiden Malik, Josie Olivo, Edward Pagan, Patti Wiley, Jasineia Ramos, Rosa Medina Perez, Mela Murder, Krystal Nicole Watts, Bronwyn Valley, Kelly Fitzgerald, Sandy Kane, Jim R. Coleman, Andrew Romano, Carolina Grabova, Terry Allen Jones, Karren Karagulian, Sabina Friedman-Seitz, Troy Kohlmaier, Ginger Cook, Tsou Shih-Ching, Marisol Rivera, Carl Bradfield, Joop Katana, Giovanni Rodriguez, Angel Garcia, Latanya Ortiz, Sonya McCarter, John Sutton, Adina Sutton, Betty Jeune, Shail Kamini Ramcharan, Kit Sullivan, Joanne Moreno, Jason Blackwater, Lauren O'Quinn, Hannah Peterson, Cecilia Quinan, Gary B. Gross, Samantha Parisi;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 111 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
These films about childhood offer a diverse range of perspectives and themes, all capturing the essence of what it means to be a child. Whether they evoke nostalgia or shed light on the challenges faced by children, they remind us of the universal experiences we all share.
In the realm of cinema, films about childhood have always held a special place, capturing the innocence, wonder, and challenges that come with this pivotal stage of life. The selection of films curated by the BFI (British Film Institute) beautifully showcases the diverse range of narratives that explore the complexities of childhood. From heartwarming tales that celebrate the power of imagination to thought-provoking stories that delve into the harsh realities faced by young protagonists, these films have the ability to transport viewers back to their own childhoods, evoking a sense of nostalgia and empathy. Through their powerful storytelling and nuanced performances, these films remind us of the universal nature of childhood experiences and the lasting impact they have on shaping our lives. Whether we are reliving our own memories or gaining a deeper understanding of the world through the eyes of a child, these films are a testament to the enduring power of cinema in capturing the essence of childhood.
