Det Skaldede Spøgelse

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Benjamin Rothenborg VibeScreen Time: 100%Role: Jasper Age: 10 years old |
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Helle FagralidScreen Time: 25%Role: Beatrice Age: 15 years old |
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Mille Hoffmeyer LehfeldtScreen Time: 25%Role: Penelope Age: 12 years old |
Det Skaldede Spøgelse
Directed: Brita Wielopolska
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish
Genre: Drama, Family
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123271
Summary
Jasper is very sad because his best friend, the old fisherman Aron, has died. He decides to look after Prust, the fisherman's cat. He dreams about his old friend and imagines meeting him again. The boys at school bully him and he receives a note threatening to kill the cat. Two flirtatious girls tease Jasper but eventually they become friends.
Movie Reviews
Two taboos in children movie - bullying and death: watch it, 17 May 2004Author: przgzr from IMDb
This is a very unusual movie regarding the theme it deals with and age
it is made for.
This is a children movie, but a family movie as well. Considering its
theme, maybe it would be the best for grown-ups in the family to watch
it first if their children are young, to be prepared for some
explanations.
The reason: though there are many equally important moments in the
movie including common as school relations, first love, relations child
- pet animal etc., there are two almost taboo themes for children
movies strongly emphasized here. The first is bullying, but this one
seems less interesting and quite understandable. The other is a death
of a family member. There are many children movies where somebody dies.
Many orphans were main characters (Annie, Oliver Twist etc), but
watching those movies kids only get information that somebody has died
before. It is sad, but it doesn't open any questions. Unfortunately, it
happens that some children have to cope with death in real life, and it
is hard for adults, harder even more because they have to cope with
that loss themselves too. And this movie is something to help them (so
they can help their kids; it certainly won't be a great comfort for
adults). The death - the fact of dying, of mortality itself,
consequences the death brings to the living - is uniquely presented
without pathetic, horrific or disturbing scenes. Death is natural and
transcendent in the same time, and believe or not, it is made
understandable for any age old enough to sit 90 minutes and watch a
movie. I don't say it's not for other children, on the contrary, death
can happen at any time, and having this film seen before can be helpful
later ("Do you remember that movie you've seen before about a boy, his
cat and his grandfather?"...). But if a tragedy happens, I can't
remember a better way to diminish pain to a little older kids, and
curiosity in smaller ones (when they start asking questions that hurt
as much as the fact what has happened).
Just some notes more: I can't get it why people send comments about
movies they possibly couldn't understand not knowing the language. All
they can comment are photography or music (and even that not related to
the plot). In a movie like this it is necessary to understand every
word (it reminds me, if your copy is subtitled be sure you children are
old enough to read!).
Second, both comments I saw here mention underage nudity. If you don't
believe and don't teach your children that nudity is a bigger sin than
murder (shown in countless movies and cartoons your children probably
watch), don't be afraid to watch it together. The movie is made in a
culture different than US (or Islamic countries) and such a nudity is
absolutely natural there, you can see it on any beach in Europe. The
only one who makes this skinny-dipping (only topless) look dirty is the
only evil character, a priest's son, while bullying Jasper in a cruel
and graphic-shown way (that nobody seems to find disturbing and comment
it). So better be prepared to educate your children about cruelty that
might lead to tragedy (as almost happened in that scene), and that is
one more good possible use of this movie. The fact that the priest's
son is so evil doesn't mean this movie is anti-religious, the priest is
O.K. character. But don't expect death to be described in Christian,
Moslem, Judaic or any other religion stereotyped way!
But if you're lucky enough not to have problems with bullying or death,
watching this movie still won't be a wasted time. I recorded it from
TV; my kids are big but I think of keeping it for my grandchildren. I
hope, just for pleasure...