BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA

3 Stars – Wholesome

The need to create is basic to our experience as humans.  But our need for love is what makes that experience complete.  When both creative imagination and loving friendship are joined, the bond that is created can surpass death itself and leave behind a kingdom of beauty and hope.  That is the message of Gabor Gsupo’s film “Bridge to Terabithia.”

Focusing on the insecurities of adolescents, “Bridge to Terabithia” is able to walk an imaginative journey that blends facts with fiction.  What is created visually and within our imaginations is an enlightening mixture as reality and fantasy become one.

The two central characters of the tale are Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) and Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb).  Fatefully and poetically joined, Jesse and Leslie share the experience of having little in common with their popular and powerful classmates.  Turning to such events as entering an athletic race to seek acceptance by their peers, they soon discover that their athletic victory becomes their social defeat.  It is then that they find each other.

The only boy with four sisters, Jesse longingly turns to his father for attention, but his father is unable to give him what he needs for a variety of reasons.  Turning to art as a way to express his inward pain, Jesse is praised for his imaginative drawings by teachers but told by his father to “get his head out of the clouds.”

Leslie is the only child of professional fiction writers whose unusual lifestyle not only causes them to move frequently, but they also often leave Leslie on her own.   In her resulting loneliness, Leslie expresses her longing through imaginative writings, writings which catch both her teacher’s and Jesse’s attention.  But it is when Jesse’s creative skills are joined with Leslie’s imaginative language that they create a world that is not only a haven from this world but a resource for surviving it as well.  The monsters and warriors are created by  each of them provide resource and protection for both.

Taking the imaginative play of children to a whole new level, Jesse and Leslie create the kingdom of Terabithia.  But like all imaginary kingdoms, the jealousies and tragedies of life eventually invade and attempt to destroy their world.  However, love cannot so easily be lost.  With courage and creative skill, Jesse expands the kingdom in ways that honor both Leslie and his love.

 

Discussion:

1. The insight discovered in their imaginary play revealed that trolls and actual bullies both have weaknesses. This realization opens the door to unexpected solutions.  Have you ever had a similar experience when your imagination helped solve an actual problem?

 

2. When it is realized that Jesse’s jealousy and wanting to be alone with his teacher in the art museum is partially the cause for Leslie’s accident, he feels guilt that his father tries to relieve.  Do you believe that their relationship was healed by this?  Do you believe that was part of the reason Jesse reached out to his younger sister?

 

3. Have you ever created a magical kingdom with make-believe friends?  Do you ever visit them now?  Why or why not?