Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Maidentrip

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Excellent docu about teen sailor; brief profanity.

Movie NR 2013 82 minutes
Maidentrip Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

imw1984
imw1984 Parent of 3 and 7-year-old
November 21, 2014
age 10+

Hard to put an age on

I watched this 'with' my kids recently. My youngest was so bored by it that he watched barely any of it, my oldest watched a bit more of it (on an off) and we had some interesting little chats about some parts, but still too boring for a 7yo to watch the entire thing. My main concern would not be the language (sending your kid to school will expose them to some curse words as well, and uh, it is a movie about a sailor) but rather Laura's family story. Her parents got divorced when she was young, and she chose to live with her dad because she liked sailing while her sister lived with their mom. Her mom gave barely any attention to Laura after the divorce, and her dad worked crazy long hours to make ends meet, was rarely home, and then had a mental breakdown of some sort. In all, I got the impression Laura might have sailed around the world to get her parents' attention and approval rather than just because she wanted a challenge. My kids didn't pick up on that though, but older kids might. Then and again, by the time they pick up on all of that they are probably also ready to handle it, assuming that they have a parent watching it with them to chat about it. It was also just a very minor part of the documentary - most of it was about the sailing and exploring foreign countries. Overall I liked the documentary and I'd be okay with my kids watching the entire documentary; I just don't know at what age they'd be interested in watching the entire thing (they thought it was cool she sailed around the world, but their Legos were just more interesting). I'm thinking maybe tweens and older would like it.
starsinmyeyes
starsinmyeyes Parent of 8 and 10-year-old
September 14, 2014
age 12+

Positive message superceeds concerns about language.

I just watched this with my 11 and 9 year olds. I knew about there was swearing but it seemed the message of this young girl following her passion, overcoming big challenges and accomplishing an amazing goal was of greater value than any possible detraction of a few f- bombs. I was right. She is a typical teenager in many ways but then she isn't. She fought her country to be able to embark on her journey at such a young age. In many ways, I feel like we watched her grow up over the course of her 500+ days at sea. In all honesty, I think an eight year old can watch this - as long as parents are aware that s/he will hear Laura swear in frustration and fear. A wonderful and inspiring story. A great watch for anyone who can understand and follow along.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Fourteen-year-old Laura Dekker, a teenager from Holland, sets out to be the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone in MAIDENTRIP. Before she attempts to do so, she confronts the Dutch government, who try everything in their power to stop her and to put her in foster care and separate her from her father. She wins her court case and is free to pursue her dream. Using a mix of shots from the camera Laura brought with her on her trip, footage from her childhood, and shots from director Jillian Schlesinger, this documentary shows the highs and lows of Dekker's voyage, as well as the people she meets along the way as she traverses all three oceans in two years.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This inspiring documentary manages to represent Laura Dekker as both a brave, extraordinary individual and an ordinary teenager looking to grow up and pursue her life's goals. Through a mix of footage Dekker kept on her personal camera as she kept a video diary and director Jillian Schlesinger's beautiful filming and filling in of the blanks in the story line emerges an incredible story of an extremely driven teenage girl and her dream of being the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone.

Although this documentary should prove inspirational for any teen with dreams of his or her own, families in general should find much to admire and enjoy in Maidentrip. The highs and lows of the voyage come through quite clearly, as do the numerous obstacles Dekker had to face before and during the trip. This is an unforgettable documentary that should merit repeated viewings.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about documentaries like Maidentrip. How was Laura Dekker's history told, and how was it placed in the context of her goal?

  • In light of the information presented at the beginning of the movie, why do you think Laura decided to change the flag on her ship from Holland's to New Zealand's?

  • How do the "in-the-moment" shots from Laura's camera compare with the shots of the film's director?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate