“You´ve got a friend in me, You´ve got a friend in me, When the road looks rough ahead, And you´re miles and miles from your nice warm bed, You just remember what your old pal said, Boy, you´ve got a friend in me, Yeah, you´ve got a friend in me”, lyrics from You’ve got a Friend in Me, in the Disney movie Toy Story.
Having friends is the best thing in the world. We rely on them to get rid of sadness, increase joy, and reduce anguish, talk, share feelings, likes, hobbies, beliefs and projects. Undoubtfully, a great value that we must teach our children.
Movies that teach us the value of friendship
One way our children can learn the meaning of friendship is through movies. “Cinema is culture, art, entertainment, but also a reflective tool that can guide behavior. There are children’s films that deal with big issues and that allow us to transmit values”, says film critic Ligia Oliver.
According to the expert, these are 10 movies that teach our children the value of friendship. This weekend, plan to watch some of them.
1. Like Stars on Earth (Taare Zameen Par), by Aamir Khan, Amole Gupte
Ishaan Nandkishore Awasthi (Darsheel Safary) is an eight-year-old boy who has dyslexia and attention deficit disorder. A group of kids pick on him, his mom gets frustrated trying to educate him, and his dad hopes all of his kids be successful. A new art teacher helps him discover that he has an extraordinary ability to paint.
Teaching: The world of children is full of wonders that it seems that adults do not appreciate them. Beyond grades and homework, there is friendship. This film was India’s official selection for the 2007 Academy Awards.
2. Home Still: There’s No Place Like Home, by Tim Johnson
An alien race (The Boov) conquers Earth and the entire population is relocated except for Tip, a girl who manages to hide from the aliens. Tip finds a runaway Boov named Oh who isn’t like the others, he just wants to have friends.
Teaching: This is a film full of feelings and love. It reminds us that family is not only about blood ties, but that there are other people who unexpectedly cross paths in your life and you create strong bonds.
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3. E.T., by Steven Spielberg
An alien child is left behind on Earth when the ship he came in departs without him. He is completely alone and afraid, but he befriends a human boy who hides him in his house and, together with his little sister, looks for a way to return him to his planet.
Teaching: This film revolves around friendship and child kindness. E.T. is a very cute character who just wants to go back home. Elliot will do everything in his power to help him, before the police and unscrupulous scientists want to experiment on him.
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4. Le renard et l’enfant, by Luc Jacquet
It tells the peculiar story of a girl who meets a fox while she was riding her bicycle through the woods; they begin a friendly relationship.
Teaching: Who says that friendship can only be among humans? This film combines the realism of a documentary with the magic of a children’s story. With her furry friend, she lives unforgettable adventures and shows that friendship can also be forged with animals.
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5. The Wizard of Oz, by Victor Fleming
Dorothy, a little girl who dreams of traveling beyond the rainbow, gets her wish when a tornado takes her and her puppy to the world of Oz. There, she heads down the Yellow Road to the Emerald City, where the powerful Wizard of Oz might help her return to Kansas. During the journey, she befriends the Scarecrow who wants a brain, the Tin Man who wants a heart, and the Cowardly Lion who wants to be brave, so they decide to join the odyssey.
Teaching: This American movie classic celebrates kindness, charity, friendship, bravery, strength, love, and generosity. When Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) sings “Over the Rainbow” she sends a message to the world, Trouble melts like lemon drops”.
6. Luca, by Enrico Casarosa
Luca is a sea monster who lives under a town on the Italian coast. When he comes to the surface, he takes on a human appearance, and meets a new friend, just like him. Together they go on an adventure among humans who hate monsters.
Teaching: According to Enrico Casarosa, the film is “as if he had put together all his childhood summers in a single film”, when he climbed the lighthouse, jumped from the rocks and laughed out loud with his dear friend . This is a story that talks about growing up and fulfilling dreams.
7. Toy Story, by John Lasseter
Woody, Andy’s favorite toy, feels threatened by the unexpected arrival of Buzz Lightyear, the Guardian of Space.
Teaching: The magic in this story makes this film a children’s classic. It all begins with Woody’s rivalry with Buzz but, wrapped up in their adventures, the two toys form powerful bonds of friendship. Toy Story also explores the great emotional bond that children generate with their toys.
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8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by Chris Columbus
On his birthday, Harry Potter discovers that he is the son of two well-known wizards, from whom he has inherited magical powers. He must attend a famous school of magic and sorcery, where he makes friends with two teens who will become his companions in adventure. During his first year at Hogwarts, he discovers that a malevolent and powerful wizard named Voldemort is searching for a philosopher’s stone that lengthens the life of its owner.
Teaching: The entire saga written by JK Rowling teaches us powerful values, from respect for animals, the value of friends and family, to the power of our actions and words. What would Harry do without his inseparable friends, Ron and Hermione? In good and bad times, the three remain united. He who has a friend has a treasure, Harry is told at the end of the tape.
9. How to Train Your Dragon, by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
Hiccup, a teenage Viking, begins dragon training classes and finally sees an opportunity to prove that he is capable of becoming a warrior when he befriends an injured dragon.
Teaching: This saga shows us, above all, the value of true friendship, which is forged between Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless. It is a very complete film because in addition to the value of friendship it explains empathy, tolerance, identity, ideals, and conflict resolution.
10. The Fox and the Hound, by Ted Berman, Richard Rich and Art Stevens
The young fox Tod and the hunting puppy Tody have become the best friends in the world, in a place where they only have each other to play and have fun. But the day comes when Toby leaves to train as a hunting dog, and when he finally returns from his long trip, things change radically for the two friends.
Teaching: A story that shows how society determines our behavior, but in the end, friendship manages to overcome any prejudice.
Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara
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