Teen faces perilous scenarios in inspirational true tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
On a small sailboat, Jessica is tossed and turned in apartment-building-sized waves. She hits a cargo ship. At one point, her boat capsizes. She's thrown around the cabin, vomiting and losing consciousness when she hits her head. Her family waits back home, sometimes believing she has died. In his sailing days, Ben lost a fingertip and also lost a sailing mate during a rough competition. Parents are accused publicly of endangering their daughter.
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The film could inspire interest in Jessica's autobiography, on which the movie is based. Mac, Converse, Tim Tam cookies, Weet-Bix cereal, Millennium Cup.
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
A family celebrates with what look like glasses of champagne and juice.
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Follow your dreams, even against the odds or other people's expectations. Achieving your dreams takes hard work and belief in yourself. People often underestimate kids, especially girls. It's okay to admit when you're struggling. Mother Nature is bigger and more powerful than humans. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Jessica shows perseverance in setting her goal at a young age and, despite obstacles and predictions of failure, she works hard to achieve it. Sailing around the world is no small feat, and Jessica demonstrates courage in the face of extreme physical and emotional challenges. She risks her life, and her parents let her do it because they see it's her dream and she has worked hard for it. When she believes she might not make it out alive, she still says she chose to be there. She says she wanted to sail around the world because nobody explores anymore, and there have been more people in space than who have sailed around the world.
Diverse Representations
a little
The film is set in Australia. Jessica's "adviser" is played by an actor of Maori descent. Scenes show people all over the world telling Jessica she has inspired them to reach for their goals, too. Jessica has dyslexia.
Parents need to know that the Australian film True Spirit is based on the real-life story of teenager Jessica Watson, who at 16 became the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone. She faces peril at sea, including storm scenes that could be intense for young viewers, especially one where her boat capsizes and it appears she may not survive. She also grapples with loneliness and homesickness. Her parents are accused publicly of endangering their daughter, and they experience doubt. Watson demonstrates perseverance and courage in striving for and achieving her dream, overcoming challenges (including childhood dyslexia) and the low expectations of others. Her journey proves inspirational for young people around the world. Minimal language in the film includes "damn," "bloody hell," and "bugger." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Ever since she was little, Jessica Watson (Teagan Croft), star of TRUE SPIRIT, has wanted to sail around the world. As a little girl (Alyla Browne), she presents her parents, Julie (Anna Paquin) and Roger (Josh Lawson), with a proposal that details plans about the training she'll need and the materials she will earn money to purchase. Her clearheadedness convinces them to at least let her work toward her goal, and she also manages to convince former sailing champion Ben (Cliff Curtis) to advise her. As the day approaches for her to set sail around the world, alone on a small craft at age 16, the adults start to have their doubts. A local media frenzy adds to the stress. But Jessica is as determined as ever.
It would be hard not to give a stamp of approval to this uplifting, family-friendly biopic based on the inspirational real-life journey of an Australian teen, despite a few overly formulaic aspects. Sure, True Spirit could have found a more original way to convey Jessica's lifelong motivation to sail around the world than (cute) childhood flashbacks. The narrative arc of the cynic-turned-cheerleader journalist doesn't feel essential or genuine either. But these slightly cloying elements don't diminish the true story of Watson, whom Croft embodies with a combination of steadfastness and vulnerability.
Structuring the film by days at sea, skipping 20 or more days at a time, and parallel editing her time on the boat with her family's life back home, keeps the pace of the story moving at an entertaining clip. The relative calmness of Jessica's journey -- captured in an especially gorgeous scene where the starry night sky is reflected in the still, black surface of the sea around her pink-lit boat -- lulls you into thinking sailing around the world could be easy. That sense of peace makes a climactic storm scene all the more intense and bolsters the emotional finale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Jessica's determination and perseverance in True Spirit. Have you ever been so clear and worked so hard to achieve a goal? Does her perseverance pay off? Does it have any negative consequences?
Were you surprised by the courage shown by a 16-year-old girl? Can you think of other stories of teenage girls who have accomplished courageous feats? Were you surprised her parents let her go? Did this show courage on their part too?
How do you think they filmed the scenes on the boat, particularly the storm scenes? Where could you go for more information?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
