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Parents' Guide to

Change in the Air

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Quirky drama about secrets leaves viewers in the dark.

Movie PG 2018 94 minutes
Change in the Air Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

TabbisYaya
TabbisYaya Adult
March 3, 2020
age 18+

Deeply Thought Provoking & Conscious Raising

As a 65 yr old great grandmother, this movie touched me in a way that made me feel 'heard.' There is much in life that can't be explained. Much that we think about, do and say that only someone who's been through it can understand or empathize with. I am not just a great grandmother, mother, employee, senior citizen waiting to go 'home'. My thoughts and experiences are deep and wonderful, heartbreaking and tragic. But they are mine and they are valuable- to me. This movie validates that. I dont believe its a movie for a young person unless they have a maturity beyond thier years. One that usually doesnt come until later in life. Thank you
barbara209
barbara209 Adult
June 4, 2019
age 11+

There is a powerful message here. Subtle and astounding. Beautifully soul touching revelation of human nature.

I have never seen a film like this one. It far surpasses any other in every way. The famous actors got the message. Everything about this movie is perfect. It is entertainment at its finest if you are willing to slow down and appreciate the extremely subtle nuances. Particularly for those awake to the soul realm. Tune in to the love. It is my favorite film. All should try it.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In CHANGE IN THE AIR, beautiful, mysterious Wren Miller (Rachel Brosnahan) moves into a friendly but very curious neighborhood. The longer Wren lives nearby, the more odd things start happening, and the neighbors' secrets start to emerge. Meanwhile, Wren's perplexing behavior is driving the neighbors -- particularly Jo Ann (Mary Beth Hurt) -- mad with curiosity. Why does she receive an enormous amount of mail, where does she go during the day, and why does she avoid the police?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

This is a movie with a big message -- unfortunately, that message is unclear. As characters are introduced, a mystery unravels: Who are all these neighbors to each other? What are their personal struggles? And what is the new neighbor's secret, and how will she solve their problems? It would be nice to say that 94 minutes later, the answers to all of these questions were revealed with a whopping WOW, but, no. It ends with a "huh?" and a "did I miss something?"

This might be a faith-based film, but that's fuzzy, too. Most confounding is why well-respected, award-winning actors like Olympia Dukakis, Rachel Brosnahan, M. Emmet Walsh, and Aidan Quinn signed up for a film of such "eh" stature. Dukakis and Quinn perform admirably, given the circumstances, but Brosnahan mostly just walks and gazes while trying to be ethereal, so it's hard to give her kudos. Plus, it's challenging to follow the subplot in each of the houses, much less care about the characters themselves. And then there's the title. What exactly does it mean? On one hand, a young woman moves into a community, and her presence drives change; on the other, an aged gentleman always carries loose change with him, and there's a connection with birds flying in the air. So is the title a corny play on words? The only thing that is clear is that Change in the Air will keep you guessing long after the screen goes dark.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Wren. Who or what was she? What was her purpose? Why do you think she moved to the other characters' street? Do you think she made a positive impact in Change in the Air? Where do you think she is now?

  • Is writing your thoughts down for no one else to read but you a form of communication? Why do you think people keep a journal? What benefit does journaling provide?

  • Jo Ann's curiosity crossed some boundaries, both social and legal. Why is curiosity considered a strength? Can curiosity have negative effects?

  • How does Wren demonstrate compassion? Why is this an important character strength?

Movie Details

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