Kit: Uma Garota Especial

Kit Kittredge (Abigail Breslin) is the only child of a Cincinnati couple in the 1930's. An aspiring newspaper reporter, Kit spends some time in her room, tapping out her stories on an old typewriter. Her father (Chris O'Donnell) owns a car dealership and her very pretty mother (Julia Ormond) takes care of their lovely home, where she often hosts garden teas. But, the Great Depression is gripping the nation and soon Mr. Kittredge is out of work and traveling to Chicago to look for a new job. Meanwhile, Mrs. Kittredge is forced to take in boarders to make ends meet, including a dancer (Jane Krakowski), a magician (Stanley Tucci), a mobile librarian (Joan Cusack), an uptight mother (Glenne Headley) and her young son. Also arriving on the Kittredge's doorstep are two young hobos, teenager Will (Max Thieriot) and pre-teen County (Willow Smith). These latter two youngsters will do any odd jobs in exchange for food and Mrs. K. welcomes them over the objections of neighbors. But, will the Kittredge family save their home? Also, will Kit see her fondest wish and get published, all the while solving the mystery of who took her family's safety box of money and other costly possessions? This is a nice, nice film for American families with young girls. Breslin is enchanting in the title role, exhibiting her sweet spunk and contagious enthusiasm at all times. The supporting cast is likewise wonderful, with O'Donnell very fine as the sensitive father and Ormond, especially, doing a terrific turn as the beautiful, courageous mother. All of the other supporting cast members previously mentioned, along with Wallace Shawn as a stuffy newspaper editor, fulfill their roles handily, too, with special mention extended to young Willow Smith for her nice interpretation of the part of a young drifter with a big secret. The film looks sensational, from the Kittredge's gorgeous home and grounds to the costumes to the wonderful cinematography. As to the script, it is a nice combination of history, intrigue, and the triumph of the human spirit, especially the hope and new possibilities that children bring into the world. Even though the direction could have been a bit snappier, the film rolls along nicely, too. In short, this is a lovely film for young girls and their families, with abundant laughs, lessons, and love. Do skedaddle over to the nearest theater and make time for Kit and company. Then, head to the library as well, for the books which inspired the film are very, very fine indeed.

The "Great Depression" is today considered the worst and longest economic recession period of the twentieth century. There is nothing new approach in the cinema of that time, which was the background for some stories. A more recent example that speaks so interesting about this troubled and sad period in the world economy and portrays the misery and societal collapse of the 30's movie Cinderella Man released in 2005, directed by Ron Howard and starring Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger and Paul Giamatti. In this film and others, as well as documentaries about the era are often produced, showing the difficult times, but always looking for great examples of overcoming stress, emphasizing the unity and solidarity will always be the main link in times of crisis.

Produced by HBO Films, and with Julia Roberts as an executive producer, production is based on the Kit Kittredge stories by writer Valerie Tripp, hits theaters more a family drama that has the Great Depression as one of the main characters, who ends up being the thread of the whole story. For the film adaptation, was chosen screenwriter Ann Peacock, who had been responsible for the 2005 adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis. The screenplay by Ann Peacock is unique to a certain extent, because unlike previous films based on the series "An American Girl", some characters in the film are not present in the books. It has its great advantage in bringing a different approach to everything. For the first time, we see a sad period of the 30s being seen through the eyes of a child who goes through transformations arising from the crisis.

Cincinnati, Ohio. Great Depression. In June 1934, Kit Kittredge (Abigail Breslin) is determined to become a reporter, writing articles on his typewriter in his attic. Meanwhile, the mortgage of your home is about to be executed because his father Jack Kittredge (Chris O'Donnell) lost his car dealership and could no longer afford the payments. He ends up going to Chicago, Illinois to find work, while Kit's mother, Margaret (Julia Ormond) need to turn the house where they live on a pension to support the home. Among those guests arriving there the magician Jefferson Berk (Stanley Tucci), a dance teacher, Miss. Dooley (Jane Krakowski), and itinerant librarian, Miss. Bond (Joan Cusack). On site there were reports of assaults and robberies allegedly committed by the homeless. Kit investigates and finds Will Shepherd (Max Thieriot) and Countee (Willow Smith), living in a homeless camp. Kit writes a story about the camp and try to sell it to Mr. Gibson (Wallace Shawn), the editor of the Cincinnati, but he has no interest in the subject. When a closed box containing all the savings of his mother is stolen, and a footprint with a star similar to the Will of the boot is discovered, the boy becomes the main suspect. Will not believing that he could have committed the crime, Kit and her friends Stirling (Zach Mills) and Ruthie (Madison Davenport) come together to gather enough evidence to find the culprits, proving that homeless friends are innocent.

The Canadian director Patricia Rozema is happy to keep that innocent look and adventurous about the events that are gradually changing the lives of an entire city. At the beginning of the film, some neighbors and acquaintances Kity are being affected by the crisis taking its foreclosure. Her father still has his car dealership, walks into a Chrysler airflows, but already beginning to suffer from the new times. When the crisis reaches the Kittredge family, he has to leave the city to try to get jobs in local gold and have to stay away from his daughter and wife. Kit will correspond through letters to his father telling of all the new developments that were taking place while he was away. Detachable here is the work of Chris O'Donnell and his chemistry with the Oscar nominee for Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Abigail Breslin. Chris O'Donnell passes and the figure of a loving father and devoted husband, and Abigail shows all the love you have for that father. The duo is responsible for the most dramatic and exciting moments of the whole film and deliver great performances.

The initial half of the script shows the desire to become a reporter kit and especially the effects of the crisis that affected not only the girl's family, but to everyone in town, including leaving many people with no place to live and struggling to survive. The beginning of the second half shows us a little better to the residents of the board created by the mother of the protagonist. Is remarkable about the cast that director Patricia Rozema could muster. Stanley Tucci is great as always as the magician Jefferson Berk. Jane Krakowski also composes and dance teacher, Miss. Dooley. The highlights will even Joan Cusack, who composed a fun and interesting character, is the peculiar way of driving, the way to run or even to speak. Julia Ormond is perhaps the best presence of the adult cast, passing all the insecurity, suffering, gentleness, goodness and sadness in specific moments. It is the most natural character among adults. Children of fundamental importance in this film are very well on stage, without exception. Besides the already known talent Abigail Breslin, Madison Davenport is important to mention, Zach Mills, Max Thieriot and Willow Smith, daughter of superstar Will Smith. The final stretch is dedicated to the mystery of the theft of the economies of Mrs. Kittredge and solving the mystery and also has an interesting little twist.

Throughout the recreation of the 30s, the crew created the appropriate climate. Photograph of David Boyd, coupled with the art direction of Michele Brady who brought cars, facades of typical houses with large green lawns of the American middle class, and objects were relevant at the time care in every detail. The costumes Trysha Bakker also excels and helps further the composition of the time.

Patricia Rozema knew leave the movie transitions natural and fluid. Earlier Kittredge family yet was struggling. With the crisis, all the characters live in a new time, having to adapt. Kit not only played, but he had to help his mother take care of the pension, having to take care of the clothes and other obligations. Aina touched on the issue of homelessness most severely affected by the economy. Seen by many large and responsible for the robberies and crime due to desperation in which they were, realized through Kit and other children, they were good people, with families and they were just victims of the situation mostly.

Rozema does not matter at any time to hide or minimize the situation of the Great Depression, but not called, aptly. See the secondary characters being affected by the crisis and the transformations all go through. The situation is not only introduced to show the time when the story was going, including being one of the main reasons for many of the actions in the course of the film. The work brings a lighter touch and pleasant, and can even have fun at many other moments. Still brings notions of political, moral, and a heroine smart, beautiful and extremely charismatic. A captivating film with a talented cast and a responsive steering and precise, as done for the whole family, where we laugh, we are moved and still reflect and learn every scene.

While not being semi-prof. film critics,we know what we like and what is a good movie, worth your time and money. This is not a deep psychological study, but is an intriguing look at an era most people have long forgotten. The story is nimble and keeps your interest while being clearly told from a child's perspective. We all loved the cinematography and the period clothes, cars, etc. The story had universal appeal and was not so childish that adults couldn't enjoy it. It was a real pleasure to see many senior citizens in attendance (even w/o grandkids) as I suspect that they actually lived through the struggles outlined in the movie. There were enough twists and turns and plenty of good, moral messages for old and young alike. Another plus is the 90 min. length! Our family votes yes to taking your kids and your senior citizens as well.

As a writer of women's history, including World War II, this is one of the few films I've seen which really informs. The settings and clothing were accurate. The mix of people was also true to life. But what surprised me the most was that Kit's family came face to face with the personal dilemmas of the Depression. She was not just a child "voyeur", "do-gooder", or "little careerist" removed from the economic and social pressures which is what I had expected. There were a number of very authentic scenes and interchanges. There were also some very interesting characters such as the mobile librarian.

I spoke to a mother as she came out of the theater with her 5 year old (who liked it). She commented that the movie will give youth of today a view of hardship that most don't understand in our now affluent nation. As a child of Depression-era parents that's the truth: both of my parents' families lost wealth due to small town bank failures. My uncle, instead of going to college, had to join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCCs).

With that said, however, as a movie I thought the acting uneven. Some of the dialogue seemed a little canned and some words were too contemporary (e.g., Kit: "I was focused on"). But some of that could also just be my first over-reactive impression. I'd have to see it again, to let it all sink in, for as a total historical package it was a lot to absorb, because you have to assess it at several different levels.

But, whether or not you think this is a good or bad movie, in movie terms, this is an important movie for children to see. It is generally fact-based, has depth, and is as authentic a movie as a wholesome, "uplifting" one for 10-year-olds can be. The American Girl phenomenon is true manna from heaven for those of us interested in giving women a place in history.

I was able to see this the other day with my child, and I must say I thought it was a decent little family movie. There were some very good lessons taught about acceptance of others, not giving up, and being happy with what you have in life. When it was over, I overheard a little girl say, "I want to see that one again." My child had the same reaction. The only complaint I have comes in the latter part of the film. Without going into details, it seems that the film unravels a bit during the third act. However, it recovers nicely, and hits the right emotional note at the end. Definitely one I'd recommend to parents and their children (both boy and girl).