This movie has proved, in my opinions, controversy, divided opinions.
When i first watched it, i watched it from the mum's point of view, i admire the courage and resilience she displayed despite severely injured. I also liked the part where it showed how some people in times of crisis, show their selfishness or selflessness (as seen when the man wanted to borrow a handphone to call home). Most of all, from the mother's point of view, i cried when the two younger brothers ran to the oldest brother and hugged him when they found him. That emotion of finding back your siblings, indescribable.
Which is why i decided to show this movie to my children as i found them squabbling among themselves quite often, which is getting on my nerves. They can squabble over the tiniest things possible.
While showing them the movie, I asked them
1) what happens when you are faced with such crisis, natural disaster, in an unknown land, would you be as strong as them? At that time, you have no choice, you have to learn to cope especially if you are separated from your family members. Just like Thomas, the father asked him to look after the younger brother as he would not be going with them to the shelter, Thomas said, he can't as he has never looked after anyone before. But he had no choice, he has to learn at that moment to look after the brother and he did. the moment when he let his brother sleep on his lap, it was sweet.
2) In the movie, the three brothers were separated, can they imagined being separated from one another? What if they cannot find one another back? That's why in their every day lives, they should appreciate their siblings. Friends are important too, but at the end of the day, siblings will be with you all the way, so instead of squabbling every day over silly things, appreciate one another.
I also reminded them how marcus was lost when we were in Taiwan, how did they feel? and when they saw marcus again, how did they feel again? that was the exact same emotion the three brothers in the movie are feeling, or even more. No matter what happens, family most important. That is what i meant.
