In our festival guidelines, we state that we want this film festival to attract international films that are inspiring and challenging and that the family can invest in.
Why? Because the family genre is not just about kids anymore. It’s older teens, parents of children and childless adults. Over the past decade, box-office numbers have proven that it’s the most profitable, the most attended, and the most “up” in production output versus its R-rated counterparts. It’s people who don’t want the excessive Hollywood “gish” that creates a cringe-factor.
A writer from one of the business journals stated “…the key will be an open-minded, nonjudgmental view of what family friendly means. If we’re looking at only films kids can see — it’s bedtime for the whole idea. If we’re looking at films that teenagers and their parents should see together, then I would challenge the committee choosing these films to consider an example — Juno.”
Would Juno be considered? Yes. It’s storyline about teen pregnancy and adoption, along with its production value are indeed an A+. But it is not suitable for all ages. Personally, I felt it was a little too neat and tidy without long term consequential impact, but indeed thought provoking. The business journal writer goes on in her editorial to say this genre of movies should “have an edge and challenge viewers….to chew over the themes and ideas, battle with the characters’ choices, and discuss — with our families — what we would have done if faced with the same problems.”
I couldn’t have said it better.
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