Come Feel the Wind

As much as the subject of death is tiptoed around, no amount of euphemisms can soften the blow of the loss of a loved one, especially to a child. This film tells the story of Clara, a 9-year-old who has to watch her otherwise vibrant father's sudden sickness and death. Using minimal dialogue, and presenting the narrative entirely from Clara's point of view, Come Feel the Wind effectively conveys Clara's confusion and fear at suddenly finding herself in the middle of a whirlwind of emotions and events that she not only doesn't understand, but that adults seem to keep a mystery. Especially brutal is the progression of watching her healthy father wither to a shell stuck with tubes and needles in a sterile bed. Her ensuing emotional retreat, especially from her mother, is understandable and believable, and Clara's eventual rediscovery of childhood joy is shown to be a courageous act of will. The accompanying materials seem to be fairly in-depth, well thought out, and an effective supplement to this excellent discussion starter. Recommended. Aud: I, J, P. (E. Gieschen)