In her 1977 novel, Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson wrote, “It’s like the smarter you are, the more things can scare you.” As graduation creeps into view, many seniors will experience nostalgia and begin to reflect on their childhoods. They may look back on different memories and objects that were once important to them. Bridge to Terabithia, a film adapted from Paterson’s novel, is loved by many, and was released around the time most seniors were born. As we push toward the end of the school year, this film can let us reflect on our childhoods.
Bridge to Terabithia was released in February 2007 and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Summit Entertainment, Icon Productions and Moviemax. The film has been nominated for 11 awards, winning six of those nominations. This film is a very good watch, with only one minor flaw.
Bridge to Terabithia follows a young boy, Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson), who befriends Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb), the class outsider, who changes his life significantly. Consumed by the troubles that fill their daily lives, the two create an imaginary world filled with fantasy known as Terabithia, in which they are the king and queen. When a tragedy strikes, one of the friends must rely on their fictional empire to find strength and cope.
This plot is truly one of a kind, visually telling a tale of redemption and growth. The film is an impactful coming of age story, as we watch Jesse (Hutcherson) go through the journey of finding himself and his place in the world. This plot is very moving, and it has all of the qualities to captivate an audience, perfected by its emotional appeal.
Bridge to Terabithia was directed by Gábor Csupó, a Hungarian animator, film director and producer, who is most commonly known for co-creating the cartoon program, Rugrats, that aired from 1992 to 2003. Csupó brilliantly captured this story, combining emotional elements with childlike imagination. He aimed to make this film as authentic as possible, and he absolutely achieved that goal. This piece evokes raw emotion and wonder, visually embodying the bridge between reality and the imagination of a child. Csupó even incorporates camera work that captures the playful creativity that can only be found within the mind of a child.
The directing of this film is not the only aspect that oozes childlike wonder. Cinematographer Michael Chapman also integrates a creative show of imagination, with editing that perfectly captures the mythical creatures that the two friends construct. Watching it now, from an older perspective, there is a deeper choice made to convey Jesse’s emotion and creativity. When he is in reality or away from Leslie, the coloring is very dull and cool. Once the two create Terabithia, there are explosions of color and the film becomes far more saturated. This suggests that Leslie and Terabithia made Jesse much happier and allowed his imagination to thrive.
The music plays a key role in this story, specifically showing how it impacts young children. In the school scenes, it is clear that all of the students are far more enthusiastic and productive during their music class than any other subject. This demonstrates how creativity is so prominent in early life, but also how many leave those qualities behind as they grow up. The music is essential to the film, and it also allows us to experience an enjoyable, childlike atmosphere as we watch.
The acting is genuinely the only flaw that can be taken from this film, but that does not even apply to every actor. Some of the actors that appeared were subpar in this piece, and quite unprofessional. Their portrayals were rather clichéd and banal, making their work generally unimpressive. However, Hutcherson and Robb’s work made the other actors’ subpar performance easy to overlook. Robb perfectly embodies the kind outsider with a heart of gold, and Hutcherson was clearly born a talented actor. His natural portrayal of raw emotion is beyond moving, especially due to his young age.
Bridge to Terabithia is an impactful film that paved the way for many of our childhoods. It has the unique ability to impact us as we move into adulthood. As nostalgia begins to swoop in and our seniors look toward the future, I implore you to take a moment to reflect on fond memories, maybe even by watching a childhood film favorite.
