NOW IN THEATERS! Marc Forster’s feature film, White Bird, is a pseudo-sequel to the hit family film Wonder (which I have not seen). The film is bookended by Wonder’s lead bully, Julian (Bryce Gheisar), who has been expelled from his previous school for bullying and now attends a new school where he tries to keep a low profile, blending in without attracting attention.
One day, after another uneventful day at school, he comes home to find his parents absent, having left to attend a party. Instead, Julian finds his grandmother, Sara (Helen Mirren), waiting for him. In light of Julian trying to go unnoticed in school, Sara insists on having a heartfelt conversation about her past.
Sara tells him a story of her childhood in France during the early days of the Nazi occupation. She recalls the moment when Nazis came to her school to round up the Jewish students, but she managed to escape. In fact, she was saved by a young man named Julian, who had a disability caused by polio. He takes her in and hides her in his family’s barn, risking his own safety. Julian’s parents, Vivienne and Jean-Paul (Gillian Anderson and Jo Stone-Fewings), also helped protect her, offering her refuge during this perilous time. But how long can they keep her in hiding from the Nazi-sympathizing neighbors?
Not to sound callous, but my first reaction to White Bird is that we seem to have an abundance of Holocaust movies. The goal then becomes trying to find a way to stand out; otherwise, White Bird risks merely blending in with all the others.
Gillian Anderson as Vivienne in White Bird: A Wonder Story. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate
“…Julian’s parents Vivienne and Jean-Paul… also helped protect her, offering her refuge during this perilous time.”
The story is pretty standard. The film’s theme is about having the courage to stand up for others in need, particularly when the consequences for being caught are death. Unlike Schindler’s List, White Bird feels more like a family film. The subject matter is intense, yet it is presented in a way that will allow younger audiences to grasp the gravity of the situation without inducing nightmares.
White Bird boasts an incredible cast that includes veteran actors Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson. As Vivienne, Anderson’s motherly instincts kick in, and you find hope that there are still good people who still exist in dark times. The standout performances are from Ariella Glaser and Orlando Schwerdt as Sara and Julian. They capture their characters brilliantly, and I couldn’t help but root for them from the very start.
Back to the “yet another Holocaust movie” comment. I’m not sure that White Bird stands out enough to be a long-remembered classic. Kids need to understand the Holocaust and be inspired to find hope in hopeless situations and step out of their comfort zone to help those in need.
What makes White Bird more timely is how it portrays the world of the 1930s and 40s and how Europe got to the point where neighbors would turn on their neighbors because they were different and allowed themselves to believe the lies being passed around about their Jewish friends. Cancel culture at its worst.
As a parent, I find that movies open opportunities to talk to your children about tough subjects. White Bird does just that in a non-traumatizing way. I mean, I still haven’t shown my kid Schindler’s List for this reason. A great story, great cast, and good production values make White Bird a solid film worthy of Lionsgate’s faith films partnership with Kingdom Story Company.
"…feels more like a family film..."
