Year: 2008                              Release Date:  May 2, 2008

Starring:  Neil Dudgeon, Bill Milner, Will Poulter, Jessica Stevenson

Could this happen with the Mormon children?

In the early 1980’s, Will Proudfoot deals with the death of his father and being a member of The Brethren, a non-specific religious organization, shunning modern conveniences such as television and movies.  In school, he meets Lee Carter, the school bully who shows him his first movie, a bootleg copy of First Blood starring Sylvester Stallone.  Thinking of his father, Will helps Lee make a movie for a competition call Son of Rambow.

The two become friends (actually going through a blood brother ceremony) making the movie with Will.  A visiting French foreign exchange student takes over the movie with his friends and Will receives new-found attention placing him at odds with both Lee Carter and his family who strongly follow the teaching of the Brethren.

This movie should be the pleasant surprise of the summer.  Although a movie such as this does not have the blockbuster appeal of Speed Racer or Indiana Jones, your movie dollar would be better spent with this well-written story.

Being involved in the FLDS case, I wonder how some of the removed children may react to exposure to the modern world after being secluded on YFZ ranch.  If these children were exposed to media, I would hope it would be this movie that shows the importance and strength of friendship and reinforces family relationships.  See it with a good friend or your family.  Either will be for the better.

Three Gavels