Beyond Beyond

Parents need to know that Beyond Beyond is a Scandinavian animated movie, re-voiced for English-speaking audiences. Danish director Esben Toft Jacobsen (The Great Bear) works to combine very serious, mature themes with a fantastical story. The topics are a child's grief at the loss of a parent and the very dire consequences of attempting to upset the natural and fundamental balance of life. Though the characters are humorous and quirky and some are lovable, there's not much comedy overall. Young bunny Johan embarks upon a perilous journey in an effort to bring his mother back to life. He encounters strange, often scary creatures (a blustering old dog, a powerful bird-rabbit, a fearless, destructive serpent) and life-threatening events (a boat capsizes; an entire town shatters and collapses, endangering all). In addition, the story and messages are often subtle and perhaps confusing; with few on-the-nose explanations, young audiences may well be scratching their collective heads to understand this movie's depiction of the afterlife as Jacobsen has envisioned it. Still, for many it will be engaging simply as a magical adventure in which a young bunny learns to accept his mother's death. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.