I sat down with the boys yesterday to watch 'Home' the recent children's film which has just come out on DVD. As I sat watching it was impossible not to see it in many ways as a reflection on our modern society.
The Boov are an alien race - experts at running away- who take over earth, move the humans to Humanstown and hide from their great enemy. It's not a complex plot but it revolves around an unlikely friendship between a rogue Boov called Oh and a human fugitive girl called Tip. The film is good fun for children but there are themes to chew on for adults too. The Boov are fearful of any and every challenge, if something is hard they will simply run away, they crave comfort and ease. But the real contrast stands out in the Boov's fearful individualism, something Oh comes to see only when he sees close up the contrast with the human concept of family and the lengths to which Tip will go to be reunited with her mum. Then in a twist at the end he realises their greatest enemy is not really their enemy but is fighting for his family too.
This contrast between fearful individualism and family raises all sorts of questions in our western society which so prizes individualism often at the expense of family. A great thing to chat through with kids as you watch the film.
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