A bridge to Terabithia

After the realization of the fantasy The Chronicles of Narnia a new film produced by the collaboration between Walt Disney and Walden Media is released entitled Un ponte per Terabithia. The film is based on the novel by the American writer Katherine Paterson, which in America is considered a reference point of children's literature, so much so that it is used as school material. In the book (published in Italy in 1977) and therefore also in the film both current issues relating to the problems of adolescents such as bullying, marginalization, lack of dialogue and misunderstanding, and the journey into the world of fantasy are addressed.
Jess Aarons (played by Josh Hutcherson) is an 11-year-old boy who lives with family problems, linked to economic precariousness as he belongs to a large family and his father must try to make ends meet by growing vegetables. He does not fare better at school and is often the victim of the mockery and arrogance of his classmates, which lead to isolation. But Jess has a way to redeem herself: the race. Take part in the competitions that take place in his school after training hard, with the hope of winning. Unfortunately he is beaten by Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb), his new classmate who has just moved in with her family, right in a house close to Jess's. Despite the first initial conflicts, Jesse and Leslie become friends, as the girl also feels marginalized and made fun of by her classmates, who consider her a strange and different person, because she does not have a television. But the thing that will bind the two boys the most will be their imagination; Leslie is great at making up stories and Jess has a talent for drawing and painting. The boys often go to a wood and after having crossed the river clinging to a rope, they arrive on the other side as if they had crossed the territory of fantasy and imagination where everything is possible. They call that place Terabithia self-elected the King and Queen of those lands and here they will meet giants, Trolls, Fairies and fantastic beings, but there is nothing impossible as it is all created by their own imagination. In this place they will feel safe from all the problems they face in their concrete life and will find the strength and motivation to overcome the obstacles of the real world. One day Jess after accompanying her music and art teacher to a painting exhibition, upon returning home, she discovers that her life has been turned upside down by a tragedy. This will lead him to take refuge in the world of Terabithia, the only place where he can find the strength and motivation to continue to face life.

The film was skillfully directed by Gabor Csupo, who in addition to characterizing the characters well, was able to convincingly outline their relationship and their problems, integrating them in a suggestive and rational way with the fantasy atmospheres, never ends in themselves, only for the pleasure of surprising, but always according to the central theme of the story. Film definitely recommended for all families and school groups, for its great educational value.

	Original title:	Bridge to Terabithia
	Country:	USA
	Year:	2006
	Gender:	Adventure, Fantastic
	Duration:	94 '
	Directed by:	Gabor Csupo
	Actors:	Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Rob, Lauren Clinton, Zooey Deschanel, Bailee Madison, Robert Patrick
	Official site:	www.walden.com/terabithia
	Production:	Hal Lieberman Company, Lauren Levine Productions Inc., Walden Media, Walt Disney Pictures
	Distribution:	Moviemax
	Exit :	30 March 2007

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