37) Free Willy [DVD] by Warner Brothers

Free Willy: How Far Would You Go for a Friend? Warner Brothers, 1993.

Genre/Subject: Family Adventure, Homelessnes, Adoption

Ages: 6 and up

Plot: Willy (a killer whale) is caught inside a net and is separated from his family of orcas, by a large ship’s net; he is taken into captivity. A twelve-year-old boy named Jessie is homeless and lives on the streets with his homeless friends. They steal food from nearby restaurants, and break into buildings and use graffiti to mark their territory. One day Jessie and a friend are tracked down by police, and Jessie enters a building, where he comes face to face with a gigantic orca. The police catch Jessie and he is forced to do community service in the aquarium where he and his friend vandalized the building. Meanwhile, a family wants to adopt Jessie, so he moves in with them, and he must complete his community service in the aquarium. Jessie believes that his mother will return, although she has not returned for 5 years.  Jessie does not like his new foster parents, because he believes he will soon be reunited with his mother. At the aquarium, Jessie befriends Willy, the whale, and the manager sees that Willy likes Jessie. Willy only wants to be fed by Jessie, and the manager and trainer believe that Jessie can help train Willy to perform to make money. After Willy refuses to perform in front of an audience, Jessie gives up and decides to live on his own. That is, until he sees Willy’s relatives in the ocean. Jessie also discovers that the water pump is unplugged. The businessman is trying to collect insurance money, by killing Willy. Jessie realizes that Willy must return to the ocean to be with his family, and he strives to set him free.

Review: This movie includes a double storyline. Both Willy and Jessie are separated from their family, and long to return to their mother. Jessie and Willy become friends and can relate to each other’s pain. Jessie realizes that Willy must be set free to join his family, because he knows the importance of family. There are other issues expressed in the film including homelessness and adoption. Jessie, as a homeless child takes care of himself, and shows how young kids survive on the streets. Jessie also shows determination and courage as he trains side-by-side with a killer whale, and saves Willy’s life, by returning him to the ocean. A great film for animal lovers.