| "Coot Club": More Inspiring Family Movie Fun!
April 30, 2009
[$24.95 postpaid in the US.]
This is a DVD of a BBC production.
It is a most-winsome all-family movie story.
*Description from the producers website:
"Coot Club" and its companion story, "The Big Six," are based on the celebrated Swallows & Amazons series of childrens' books written by Arthur Ransome. For anyone who loves sailing and adventure, the Arthur Ransome classics stand alone. Set in the '30s, both stories take place on the lakes and waterways of England, and feature the same cast of lively characters, led by six children, who become firm friends, sharing a love of wildlife and all things nautical. The fun and adventure of a life afloat sparkle off the screen. These movies were produced on location in England by the BBC.
Coot Club: Dick and Dot have to be taught the art of sailing, because they are spending their first holiday afloat with Mrs. Barrable. On hand is the doctor's son, Tom, and a pair of twins that are such expert sailors they are nicknamed Port and Starboard. The adventure begins with the "Hullabaloos," a party of noisy holidaymakers on the river who are damaging the riverbanks and wildlife. Tom is forced to free their boat from its mooring to save a coot's nest. Then, Tom, Dick and Dot, joined later by the twins, sail south on a cruise. Will the Hullabaloos catch up with them?
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I was going to try to save time by not commenting and just getting these fine flicks listed on the OYB site, but I can't help it.
Two additional points...
There are refreshing mixed-class, mixed-age, and mixed-culture aspects to these flicks. Poor kids and middle class team up. Adults and kids work together. Country kids and city kids get along. Bravo!
Also, there's an extended scene where twin girls go on their own mini-adventure. The things they get up to ALL ON THEIR OWN are amazing. Now, everyone says "but today is a different world." Well, I'm not so sure... Of course, this tale is a rosy one, but inspiring gumption and OBSERVATION skills in kids are always keys to good things no matter what era you live in. Those kids didn't trust just anyone, as the story makes clear. But when they had their bearings they STEPPED OUT. Hooray!
Here's to the Death and Glories!
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