Awards Season Fueled by Children in Peril

Theres an unusual perspective worth considering when discussing films about children in crisis: a sort of parental lens for evaluating movies. Not a filter for content warnings, but one that reflects how a parent might emotionally respond to intense scenes involving children. Movies like Arrival demonstrate this vividly. The opening sequence shows a mother experiencing the life and tragic loss of her child, setting a tone that resonates throughout the film, leaving parents, in particular, emotionally raw and conflicted.

Similarly, the upcoming films Hamnet, If I Had Legs Id Kick You, and Train Dreams place young lives at the center of profound emotional narratives, provoking reactions that are as much about the viewers instincts as about the characters experiences.

Hamnet

Chlo Zhaos Hamnet tells the story surrounding the family of William Shakespeares Hamlet, focusing on his wife Agnes and their children. Agnes, skilled in herbal remedies and forest magic, foresees the death of one of her children and struggles against fate. The film is about grief, loss, and the power of art to process sorrow.

Zhaos use of natural lightingfrom candlelit writing sessions to the overcast English countrysideadds to the authenticity of the story. The performances are exceptional: Paul Mescal portrays Will with a sensitive, emotional depth, while Jessie Buckley embodies Agnes with a mix of fierce love and anguish. For parents, the film is particularly challenging, depicting the mercilessness of life in its most personal form.

If I Had Legs Id Kick You

Mary Bronsteins If I Had Legs Id Kick You presents a different kind of parental struggle. Linda (Rose Byrne) faces the exhaustion of caring for a sick daughter while navigating the absence of her husband. The films intimate cinematography creates a sense of chaos and immediacy, amplifying the tension of the story. Byrnes performance captures the overwhelming nature of parental responsibility, highlighting the delicate balance between empathy and horror as a parent witnesses a childs suffering.

Train Dreams

Train Dreams depicts the life of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), an orphan whose lifetime spans the rise of modern America. Grainier witnesses history unfolding, from railroad expansion to technological progress, all while enduring personal tragedy. The film explores the quiet devastation of loss and the inexorable march of time. Grainiers connection to the land and his work is intimate yet transient, reflecting the larger theme of lifes impermanence. Tragedy strikes when he loses his family, leaving him unmoored in a world that continues without pause.

The film is elegiac and reflective rather than horrific, with Edgerton anchoring the story through subtle, grounded performance. Train Dreams portrays how personal grief intersects with the broader sweep of history, offering a contemplative meditation on loss, memory, and the endurance of the human spirit.

Together, these films illustrate the centrality of children in peril as a lens for cinematic exploration, challenging audiences emotionally and inviting reflection on the depth of parental love, grief, and resilience.

Author: Connor Blake