Movie Therapy-- "Holes"

Objective: 

Teach our son, TsukiMoon, about feelings and motivations of others.

Theory:  

To watch movies that have a complex character development will build TsukiMoon's understanding of people and their emotions.   "Holes" also teaches how to help others become better.

On The Ground:

Our latest in Movie Therapy was to watch "Holes."

I first read "Holes" back in 2000 when it was first published.  I thought it was such a great, tight story that I immediately shared it with my husband and parents, also buying several copies to give to friends.  

My mother, who is super critical of; bad plot devices, characters breaking character, and predictable story lines, loved it.  My husband thought it was such a compact story that it rivaled "Pulp Fiction" in tying up every lose end, maybe even better he said.  It was a perfect a choice to teach our son, TsukiMoon  how when you treat others with caring can heal everyone and everything.

The story is complex. Every story element has a purpose, carefully intertwined with another.  The first time we watched it, it was a difficult for TsukiMoon to follow all the moving parts.  He watched it again the following night and was better able to apprehend the finer points.

He asked lots a lot of questions about the relationship between Stanley and Zero.  He couldn't understand why Stanley would help Zero, why Zero couldn't read, and why Zero was so sick after his days spent under the boat, Mary Lou.  The whole thing stretched his understanding.

When TsukiMoon ask questions about people's motivations, it is a good thing.  He asked a lot about "Holes."  He wants to understand people.  As long as the flick is interesting is enough it is pretty easy to teach him the mechanics of people's feeling because he wants to know.

"I did not know how to reach him, how to catch up with him...  The land of tears is so mysterious." --Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "The Little Prince"

Don't worry darling, we will help you.