We have a lovely family movie night tradition for many years. Once per week, on one of the weekend nights, we snuggle up in our pajamas on the couch and watch kids or family all-time favorite movies together, and once per month, we usually go to the cinema to check for something new.
Our last cinema discovery was Smallfoot, an animated kids’ movie about yetis adventures to prove the existence of humans, aka “small foot.” It’s like the Bigfoot legend story but from the other perspective. The main character of the Smallfoot movie is a young Yeti, Migo, who finds something he thought didn’t exist: the elusive creatures known as humans.
Curiosity, integrity, communication, knowledge, tradition—all these universal ideas are presented in this story. Many philosophical questions and beliefs, like, “Questions lead to knowledge, and knowledge is power,” “You think knowledge is power? What are you going to do with that power?” “Ignorance is a blessing,” and “The only thing stronger than fear is curiosity” were promoted during the movie.
My kids go to an IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum school. They are constantly reminded about the IB learner profile, which is described by a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success and help respect themselves, others, and the world around them. IB learners are:
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
Smallfoot is a movie that entirely reflects IB profile. It nurtures curiosity, exploration, creative thinking, collaboration, a strong sense of fairness and justice, and empathy. It calls us to be motivated by interest rather than fear.
I can’t remember any other kids’ movie that inspired to do as much self-questioning as this one. Philosophical self-enrichment and personal development ideas are beautifully crafted throughout the story with the help of relationships between friends, parent and child, leader and the public, and yetis and humans.
I really recommend this movie for family movie night. Don’t forget to talk about identity, the power of knowledge, and bravery with your kids after watching it, and turn this simple, yet profoundly motivating movie into a powerful self-enrichment tool.
“The world is a mysterious place. There are marvels of nature just waiting to be discovered by those who are daring enough to look,” one Yeti said. So, let’s dare to look!
