Princes in Exile

A charming sleeper, produced in conjunction with the National Film Board of Canada, Princes in Exile, based on the novel by Mark Schreiber, takes place at Camp Hawkins, an unusual camp for children with life-threatening illnesses. Ryan Rafferty (Zachary Ansley), 17, diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, enters Camp Hawkins with two goals: finish his journal which he eventually hopes to publish, and lose his virginity. What could have been an extremely tasteless teen sex comedy, instead emerges as a sensitive portrait of young people facing bleak futures. At first standoffish, and filled with an inner rage, Ryan comes to appreciate life and gain a sense of renewed hope. How his initial goals gradually transform over the course of the movie makes for an honest, positive, and often humorous story. Viewers not only gain insight into a situation that fortunately most of us will never have to confront, they also see the power of a positive, life-affirming response to the crippling cards that fate occasionally deals. An excellent title for YA's, Princes in Exile is highly recommended. (R. Pitman)