Through Her Eyes
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Earnest but flawed drama about desegregating schools.
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Through Her Eyes
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What's the Story?
THROUGH HER EYES tells the story of high-schooler Rosalee (Rayven Symone Ferrell), living in segregated Alabama in the early 1960s. When she learns that the White high school in town is now accepting Black students, Rosalee decides she wants to enroll there. She's tired of being treated poorly by White people, tired of sitting in the back of the movie theater, and tired of outdated, worn-out textbooks with missing pages. Her older brother Junior (Michael Christopher Rodney), a voting rights activist, is fully behind Rosalee. But their father Otis (Shawn Luckey) is against the idea. Eventually, Rosalee convinces her dad to let her enroll, insisting that she knows how to take care of herself and that she'll be safe. But when tragedy strikes the family, Rosalee doesn't feel like she has the strength to go on. Will she find it within herself to pursue her dream and get the education she knows she deserves?
Is It Any Good?
This is a thought-provoking, earnest movie with good intentions that unfortunately has too many flaws to make much of an emotional impact on viewers. Through Her Eyes has a weak script, and at only an hour long it's easy to imagine that a lot was edited to shorten the running time. Some of the dialog is stilted, there are confusing gaps in the story, and the way the characters and relationships develop is sometimes hard to follow, making it easy to feel like something important got skipped over.
That being said, most of the acting is solid and many cast members have lots of charisma. Different opinions and points of view within the Black community are well represented, and it's a good opportunity to talk to kids about the history of segregation and integration in the US and the impact it had on real people's lives. Some brief violence and strong language make it best for teens and up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Through Her Eyes depicts Rosalee. What makes her a good role model? What are her character strengths and weaknesses? Who was your favorite character?
Why is diverse representation important in movies, TV, games, and other media?
What did you know about the history of segregation and integration of schools in the US before you saw this movie? Did you learn anything that surprised you? Why is the issue still important today?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 20, 2021
- Cast: Rayven Symone Ferrell , Michael Christopher Rodney , Shawn Luckey , Angela Ray
- Director: Trenton Lumpkin
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: 1091 Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Activism , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models , History
- Run time: 61 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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