Le avventure della piccola Ociee Nash

Parents take their kids by droves to the latest Disney or Pixar films, and other high production value movies that basically just stimulate hyperactivity in kids. That's okay, but parents should give their kids a balanced diet by also taking them to see movies like Ociee Nash that are a little bit closer to the world that they live in, with simpler, thought provoking situations that a child can identify with. The theater that I saw Ociee in during a Saturday matinee had lots of small children in the audience. They were quiet as can be and seemed completely engaged in the story. I knew they were watching because they would occasionally laugh or comment at something that one of the characters said, indicating that they were actually listening to the dialogue! Not bad for a movie that actually has some redeeming value to it. The movie shows how a young person can overcome adversity in their life through courage and love, and that by doing so they can have a positive effect on the lives of the people around them.

For adults the movie offers a quirky charm and a gentle touch which is not only rare, but virtually extinct in Hollywood. Watching this movie with your kids will do you some good too.

Growing up, Sounder, Tom Sawyer, and Mary Poppins were the movies that molded me and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of Ociee Nash, a small homegrown film. As a Georgian, I was glad to see Atlanta's beauty through a filmmaker's eyes and as an artist, I was glad to see so many local celebrities mixed in with solid performers like Keith Carradine and Mare Winningham. We, in the suburbs of Atlanta, were fortunate to be able to send many friends to to see what I now call an endangered species - the FAMILY FILM. As I grow older, I long for those films that make us, as human beings, dare to search for great adventure. Milam Propst's A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street was a great children's book that some adults may never have known about had there not been The Adventures of Ociee Nash. I am glad the McGary sisters had the vision to turn this magical story into a movie that everyone can enjoy. As a side note - any story with a mysterious gypsy with one eye and an infectious laugh is sure to be a crowd pleaser!!

This was a thoroughly enjoyable movie experience. The plot is a little bit thin in places making a few scenes feel a bit contrived, but overall the plot hangs together nicely and moves along at a good pace. The acting is uniformly good, as is the quality of the cinematography. The film is visually lush, more like a big-budget Hollywood production than an indie.

So if you are looking for an entertaining movie that will be enjoyed by younger children and adults alike - you have found it! It doesn't rely on gimmicks, crudeness or "blowing things up" in lieu of a real plot - so it is a throwback to quality children's' movies of yesteryear. The movie's makers are to be rewarded for believing there is still a place for a wholesome movie in an increasingly Bratz kind of world - and there is and this movie proves it.

After seeing The Adventures of Ociee Nash for the third time with audiences of children of all ages, their parents, and adults without children, I am convinced of the power of this film to entertain and educate many. Hearing the laughter, the clapping, and even a few sobs, I knew that this film had the secret ingredient that makes people love it...a heart. As an adult without children, seeing Ociee made me nostalgic for the family films of my youth, the ones that were wholesome, sweet, and moral. In an age where filmmakers and studios resort to the lowest means to attract the attention of theatergoers, particularly the youth, The Adventures of Ociee Nash takes the high road and relies solely on a great story and great filmmaking. Kudos to those responsible for this treasure for the ages.

While this was not a high tech movie, it was very refreshing to enjoy a family story in which the children were not crass and rude, the father was not an idiot, and the mother was not a wise-cracking woman constantly making a fool out of Dad while remaining always in confused deference to the last word spoken by the children. Thanks to the creators of this movie for giving us something different for family fare! We will recommend the movie, and we'll watch it again. We are from Chattanooga, so it was especially fun for us to see the parts of the film made here in our city, and in nearby Atlanta.