From brave orphans in a beautifully animated story to adventure seeking teenagers in a timeless eighties classic,
this movie round-up has something for all sections.
He Named Me Malala (2015)
Suitable for: Scouts and up
In October 2012, 15 year old Malala Yousafzai was riding the bus when a member of the Taliban came on board,
asked for her by name and opened fire, it was an attempt to silence her for speaking out against a ban on girls attending school across Pakistan.
But Malala survived, and she refused to keep quiet, filmed over 18 months, this moving documentary accompanies the Yousafazis as they go about their lives in the aftermath, with Malala’s subsequent rise to fame, her settlement into a new home in the UK, and the challenges she faces in juggling her global campaign work with being a teenager. In one scene Malala holds power to account at a UN conference. In the next playfighting with siblings and blushing
when asked if she plans to take anyone to prom, and fretting over a failed Physics exam. Although everything about Malala’s journey is spellbinding to watch, it’s these tiny glimpses into her daily life that makes this particular documentary special. It reminds us that so many of our heroes are ordinary people, and that ordinary people are capable of exterordinary things.
Scout values: integrity, care, belief, co-operation
Paddington (2014)
Suitable for: Beavers and up
Michael Bond – author of the original author of the original Padding books (later a TV series) – grew up in Britain during the second world war, and watched as his parents opened their home to evacuees fleeing persecution.
Those early experiences shaped his view on the importance of kindness and hospitality, and ultimately inspired him to imagine the story of a bear who crosses oceans in shipping containers before ending up at Paddington station with nowhere to go, nobody to lean on, and nothing but a duffle coat and a suitcase stuffed with marmalade. That is of course, until he meets the Browns, who take him under their wing – only to find themselves forever changed by this
chance encounter with a walking, talking bear. On the surface, it’s a charming film about a very clumsy bear and the sticky situations he finds himself in. But it’s also a story about a helping hand to someone from a faraway land, the importance of belonging, and the sheer deliciousness of the humble marmalade sandwich: all things we should endorse and encourage the next time we break bread on camp.
Scout values: integrity, care, co-operation
Liyana (2017)
Suitable for: (Older) Scouts and up
Filmed in an orphanage in the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Liyana tells the story of five children who call it home and the paths that led them there. With the support of their teachers, they’re encouraged to work together to turn past trauma into an original folk tale about a brave young girl who embarks on a perilous quest to save her twin brothers from danger. Weaving together sublime 3D animation and behind the scens footage, the film is part documentary, part interactive storybook – seamlessly blending fact and fiction to offer a rare perspective,
shaped almost entirely by the children’s lived experiences.
It’s impossible to avoid that punch-inthe-gut sensation, seeing these bright-eyed and brilliant children reveal details of their difficult lives with candour. Leaders and parents should aware that it contains some topics not suitable for all young people (some children talk openly about losing family to HIV, for example; others of armed men stealing children in the middle of the night). But, for those who are mature enough, the film is educational in its content, remarkable in it’s execution and unforgettable in it’s messaging: hope always wins.
Scout values: integrity, belief, care, co-operation
Words: Aimee-lee Abraham | Illustrations: Maria Suarez-Inclan. Courtesy of Summer Scouting Magazine
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