Children's Media #1: Son of Rambow (2007)

Shots Fired and Friendships Formed

Trailer for Son of Rambow (2007)

What media is specifically for children? I enjoyed our discussion last week when we discussed about the three sections that Benjamin wrote on the board, media is made for children, media about childhood, and media consumed by children. There is some media that is made for children yet one can ask if the media is only consumed by children. Parents are generally in the same room or near their children when they are engaging with media so media like Shrek (2001) parents can also engage with the media because there are even jokes or social commentary that adults would understand and not children. Regarding media for children and media about childhood, Son of Rambow (2007) fits into the category of media about childhood by the expressive nature in the cinematography and VFX, the expletives in the dialogue, and the heighten of the mundane sounds. 

While watching Son of Rambow, childhood's colors, movements, and imagination comes to the forefront of the viewer's mind. The cinematography is purposeful in that many shots reflect of what if feels like to be a child in situations. For example, when the protagonist doesn't want to at home and wants to be playing with his best friend, there is a dolly out through a window which creates a frame within a frame. The viewer sees the protagonist's little sister and grandma together in the living room and we dolly out to the kitchen where the protagonist is standing camera right and he is outside of the window's frame. This shot creates the feeling as when a child feels on the outside of his family and doesn't feel like he fits in. Many times in childhood one feels this way. The VFX in the film bring a child's imagination to life such as a kid's drawings in his notebooks coming to life outside as he rides in his mom's car. 

This media wouldn't be considered for young children due to the strong language in the dialogue in the film. There are at least ten uses of expletives in the film. It's important to not that the film received a PG-13 rating. Parents should recognize that and understand that your seven year old might not need to watch this. This film fits into the media about childhood category by expressing strong language when you are a child. I know when I was a younger I didn't understand curse words but I had heard them and I knew when you could say one. The two kids who move along the story swear and it's generally when no adults are around. 

As a child, sounds can really stand out and be very interesting. A child is young and there's still a sense of discovery with different sounds. Son of Rambow recognizes that and in the very beginning of the film, the child holds a pinecone against a fence and the audience hears that noise loud and clear. The protagonist is interested in noises like that. He even holds his watch very close to his hear just to hear the ticking. In childhood, kids love to be loud and make noise or they truly appreciate noises and they listen attentively. 

Son of Rambow reminds the viewer of what childhood is like. The viewer embarks on a thrilling, nostalgic journey with these kids as they are trying to make a sequel to original Rambo's. The influence of entertainment and media on children is real. All children's media does not have to be made specifically for children like this film.



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