White Bird

Story

Julian (Bryce Gheisar) is finding it difficult to fit in at his new school, having been expelled from his previous school for bullying Auggie (whose story is told in the movie Wonder). His grandmother, Sara Blum (Helen Mirren), visits him one day and decides it’s time to tell Julian her own story of not fitting in.

As a girl, Sara (Ariella Glaser) has a happy childhood in a small French village until the Nazis arrive. The Jews in the village are rounded up and the Nazis come to Sara’s school. Sara, along with all the Jewish students, are led to a truck. Sara and another girl escape with the help of their teacher. They hide in the woods, where Sara is rescued by Julien (Orlando Schwertd), a classmate who has polio.

Julien takes Sara to his home and hides her in the barn. This is at great risk to himself and his very kind parents, Vivienne (Gillian Anderson) and Jean Paul Beaumier (Jo Stone-Fewings). Vivienne looks after Sara as her own daughter for the duration of the war. Unfortunately, more sadness descends on the Beaumier family as the Nazis start rounding up not only the Jews, but sick people, gypsies and other so-called ‘undesirables’.

Themes

WWII; The Holocaust; bullying; racism

Violence

White Bird has some violence. For example:

Schoolboys bully Julien and tease him for being a ‘cripple’. They steal his crutches and hit him with them.
A ‘Punch and Judy’ show is played, which features the characters hitting and punching each other.
The school principal, a priest, is shot dead in front of the students. Other characters are also shot.
Several of the schoolboys join the Hitler youth. They are given guns, which they use to shoot up a cinema. A gunfight breaks out between the youths and the French Resistance. A man is shot dead.
One of the boys is a particularly nasty bully. He beats and kicks Julien. He threatens to put him out of his misery.
A character is viciously attacked by wolves. He is shown dead on the ground.
Boys chase after Sara and shoot at her.
A group of disabled people is led into the woods and shot.

Sexual references

White Bird has some sexual references. For example, Sara and Julien kiss and lie in the loft together, fully clothed.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

White Bird shows some use of substances. For example:

Julian’s grandmother offers him a glass of wine, which he refuses.
Some characters smoke.

Nudity and sexual activity

There’s no nudity and sexual activity in White Bird.

Product placement

There’s no product placement in White Bird.

Coarse language

White Bird has some coarse language and name-calling.

Ideas to discuss with your children

White Bird is based on the graphic novel of the same name by R.J. Palacio and is a sequel to the book and movie of Wonder. The movie is full of positive messages, including the idea that kindness will last for a lifetime. It’s a moving story of courage, resistance and light in dark times. It’s also a reminder not to let the mistakes of the past be repeated.

White Bird is quite intense in parts and its themes of war make it unsuitable for children under 11 years. We recommend it for children aged 12 years and older.

These are the main messages from White Bird:

People died for our freedom in the past. Do not let their sacrifice be for nothing.
Only light can drive out darkness.

Values in White Bird that you could reinforce with your children include courage, bravery, empathy, kindness, imagination, tolerance and resistance to evil.

White Bird could also give you the chance to talk with your children about questions and issues like the following:

Why were Jews singled out in WWII?
What are the parallels between the events of World War II and current events?