• Skip to content
  • Skip to navigation
Raising Children Network
  • Pregnancy
  • Newborns
  • Babies
  • Toddlers
  • Preschoolers
  • School age
  • Pre-teens
  • Teens
  • Grown-ups
  • Autism
  • Disability

Story

Sawyer Nelson (Nathan Gamble) is a quiet, gentle boy. He prefers making model aeroplanes and hanging out with his older cousin Kyle (Austin Stowell) to being with the other kids at school, who make fun of him. He lives alone with his mother, Lorraine (Ashley Judd), after his dad left them some years before.

Sawyer is riding his bike to school one day when he hears a fisherman calling for help. He runs down to the shore where he finds a young dolphin washed up and tangled in ropes. Sawyer cuts the ropes and stays talking to her while they wait for a rescue team. The dolphin is taken away to a marine aquarium, where they name her Winter. Sawyer manages to get into the aquarium and finds that Winter isn’t going very well. Her tail is badly damaged and she won’t eat. But when she hears Sawyer’s voice, she responds and lets him feed her from a bottle. Winter’s tail has to be amputated and things don’t look good for her. She overcomes her disability, however, and learns to swim.

Unfortunately, Winter’s new way of swimming is damaging her spine. Against all odds Sawyer enlists the help of a prosthetic surgeon, who creates a tail just for her. Winter’s determined spirit is an inspiration to all, not least to young Sawyer. He gets a lot of self-confidence from the experience of looking after her.

Themes

Overcoming disability; single-parent families

Violence

This movie has some violence. For example, Rufus the pelican is quite aggressive and attacks everyone on first sight.

Sexual references

None of concern

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

None of concern

Nudity and sexual activity

None of concern

Product placement

None of concern

Coarse language

This movie has some mild coarse language.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Dolphin Tale is an inspirational family movie based on a true story. It’s suited to most ages, although younger children could be upset by scenes of the injured dolphin and people with prosthetic limbs. It has been released in both 3D and 2D versions, but the 3D effect doesn’t seem to add much to the movie. The movie is full of positive messages and role models.

The main messages from this movie are that having a disability doesn’t have to stop you from achieving your dreams. The movie also sends the message that family is very important.

Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include respect for animals, courage, generosity, loyalty and friendship.

This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues such as bullying. You could ask your children about why the boys at school are mean to Sawyer and won’t let him sit next to them.

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

Follow us on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
Sign up now to get free parenting news delivered to your inbox.
Aboriginal flag (c) WAM Clothing
Torres Strait Islands flag
At raisingchildren.net.au we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, gather and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
  • Privacy statement
  • Terms of use

© 2006-2023 Raising Children Network (Australia) Limited. All rights reserved.

Warning: This website and the information it contains is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified practitioner.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation (HON) and complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.