Beat the Turtle Drum

This award-winning after-school special originally aired on TV twenty years ago, and although this is apparent in the clothing styles and the look of the film stock, the message is rather timeless. Melissa Sue Anderson ("Mary" of Little House on the Prairie fame) is Kate, a teen who loses her younger sister, Joss, in a freak accident. Opening with the funeral scene (and thereby removing any dramatic suspense), the film flashes back to before the accident, establishing the sisters' characters and relationship. Although the film eventually addresses different aspects of dealing with untimely death, the last ten minutes doesn't leave a lot of time to really flesh them out. This seems a bit of a wasted opportunity, not only because weighty issues, like the guilt and inferiority that plague Kate are ignored, but because the first-rate cast could have definitely handled such acting demands. However, this film is a solid, sensitive portrayal of the untimely death of a child, and can be used as a good discussion starter. A strong, optional purchase. (E. Gieschen)