When Frank and I worked with the adjudicated teenagers at Palama Settlement, we included movies in our curriculum. “Little Miss Sunshine” was cool (although the kids thought Grandpa was the main character because he of course was their favorite, which can be attributed to his substance abuse issues and foul language) and although I frowned upon adding to their daily quotient of violence, Frank insisted upon “Kill Bill” and of course they loved that too.
One absolute from the kids was that they did not want to see any film in black and white. It had to be in color or they refused to watch it. Taking this as the dare it was intended to be, I forced them to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life,” in all its original black and white glory. They sat stock still for the whole two hours and twelve minutes. They laughed. They cried. They learned it’s okay to be flawed and it’s even better to overcome that flaw. They learned the transcendent power of story. All in black and white.
Usually I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this article really forced me to do so! Thanks, really nice article.