I've been getting announcements for local sensory-friendly movie events for quite a while, without these components lining up exactly for us, so we'd never been to a sensory-friendly showing. We get the announcements due to our association with autism-related organizations, but Joy isn't anywhere near being able (or interested) for a feature-length film. Rose, however, has disliked loud noises since she was very young. And I often experience the sound level at a movie theatre as a sonic assault myself, especially during the previews!
So, what makes a sensory-friendly showing? At least for this one:
Sound level is turned down. No previews. The showtime is not listed for the general public in the theatre's regular listing. A non-judgmental atmosphere for viewers who need to get up and move, or do some vocalizing, or take breaks.
I don't know how attendance usually is, but for us this felt like practically a private showing! There were only two other mother-daughter families there, and though I'd tipped Rose off that people might need to move around or make noise a little more than at most showings, nobody did.
So, the movie. Ramona and Beezus.
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The movie was sweet and age-appropriate. Rose loved it, though she'd never really gotten into the books, which were a little slow-paced for her. (She preferred Junie B. Jones, from a more contemporary series of books with a Ramona-like lead character.)
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The movie takes plot elements from different books -- Daddy losing his job from Ramona and Her Father, Aunt Bea's romance from Ramona Forever, little touches like Ramona "boinging" a classmate's curls and turning the "Q" in her last name into a cat from Ramona the Pest. The job-loss frame turns it into a contemporary fable of recessionary struggle and family resilience with darker themes than I was expecting, and more tearjerker moments, but with lots of humor along the way and a happy ending as a "G"-rated movie should have. Ramona herself is played spot-on.
Rose was all excited to see Selena Gomez cast as Beezus. Her mama was not nearly so impressed. Beezus isn't supposed to be drop-dead gorgeous! How can I identify with that??
2 comments:
I remember Maria von Trapp thought Julie Andrews was too pretty to play her in "Sound of Music". I bet you can still identify with a lovelier Beezus if you try. ;) I will have no problem doing so.
Our Teen has berated me into reading "Flipped" and I have finally realized why about half-way into the book. I expect be posting about that book.
I have been reading about 'sensory friendly' movies - mostly from Austin tweeters. Great idea and good PR for theaters I would think. Thanks for sharing this - very encouraging, Bee-JoyMama!
BRatK
You are gorgeous, JoyMama, in body and soul. Accept it, own it, live it!
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