There are two stories told in this film. One of divorce shown through the eyes of children, and a second of finding a place to belong when parents are splitting up and a sense of having a home disappears.
The anxieties and guilt felt by adults during a divorce aren't that much different than what kids feel. To some degree, kids feel more guilty during that process because they don't know as many details as their parents and thus assume everything is their fault, and this film addresses that. From my perspective as a child of divorce, I think the importance of being honest with kids about what's happening is relayed well in this film, even though the kids take that information and turn it into a 'war' with their peers.
The 'divorced kids' club showcases the universal needs for acceptance and a sense of belonging. I definitely could have used a club like that during my parents' divorce. Kids today have a lot more resources to find support groups than I did in 2000. Is it any easier to have your parents split up? No. But the support kids need is easier to find.
Overall, I think the story was well-executed and I relate to it very deeply, especially being the same age as the kids in the film.
The anxieties and guilt felt by adults during a divorce aren't that much different than what kids feel. To some degree, kids feel more guilty during that process because they don't know as many details as their parents and thus assume everything is their fault, and this film addresses that. From my perspective as a child of divorce, I think the importance of being honest with kids about what's happening is relayed well in this film, even though the kids take that information and turn it into a 'war' with their peers.
The 'divorced kids' club showcases the universal needs for acceptance and a sense of belonging. I definitely could have used a club like that during my parents' divorce. Kids today have a lot more resources to find support groups than I did in 2000. Is it any easier to have your parents split up? No. But the support kids need is easier to find.
Overall, I think the story was well-executed and I relate to it very deeply, especially being the same age as the kids in the film.