In the Book and 2017 Movie Wonder, Julian Albans (Bryce Gheisar) is expelled for how he treats Auggie Pullman. Now, Julian struggles to fit in at his new school. During a visit from his grandmother (Helen Mirren) in the film White Bird, Julian’s eyes are opened by the power of kindness when she shares her story of childhood:
Sara (Ariella Glaser) grew up in a quaint, upper middle-class village in France. Her mother was a math teacher and her father a surgeon. At school, her and her best friends Mariann and Sophie make fun of a boy named Julien (Orlando Schwerdt). They give him the name “Tourteau” which means “The crab” because he uses a crutch and caliper to help him walk, making his movements awkward and ungainly. Julien, however, secretly adores Sara and watches her at the Cinema on Saturday nights while he’s running the projector.
One day, German soldiers unexpectedly arrive at their school to collect the Jewish schoolchildren in Nazi-occupied France. The school leaders and teachers encourage the students to flee and head toward the woods. As a sewer worker’s son, Julien, intercepts and leads Sara through the sewers to his modest and humble home in rural France.
Knowing the consequences for harboring a Jew, his parents don’t even question his intentions, but instead give her some of what little they have to ensure her safety and survival. Sara goes into hiding in the upper hayloft of a dilapidated barn, avoiding the watchful eye of Julien’s neighbors, who are suspected Nazi informants.
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As the war rages on, days become weeks, months and even years all while Sara remains hidden. Julien’s parents treat her as their own and a friendship between Sara and Julien begins to blossom into love. Julien gives Sara colored pencils because he remembered that she loved to draw, he visits her everyday after school to teach her that day’s lessons, and he escapes with her to far away lands as they watch films and look at images projected on the side of the barn.
Sara passes the time drawing and creating a safe world within her heart and mind. Since she cannot leave the barn, she imagines a magical world and takes Julien on her journey to all these places in her mind.
In the midst of the confines of the barn, a white bird visits just outside the tiny window in the loft. Sara is captivated by its presence and beauty, which she illustrates in her sketchbook. Julien is moved by the joy it brings Sara and carves a white bird out of wood as a birthday gift for her. The pure and divine presence of the white bird connects Sara to the outside world.
After the war, Sara grows up to be a well-respected artist and painter, always drawing on the essence of what the white bird represented in her life. The whole film has an artistic quality to reflect the growth and development of Sara’s character.
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Heart Transformation in White Bird Film
Throughout the film, transformation occurs in every character which is deliberately viewed in the costuming, hair and other details.
Sara is viewed through various stages in her life. Originally, a very put-together girl, exhibiting a beauty reflective of her mother’s care. Over the two years in hiding, facing the reality that she will never see her parents again, Sara’s clothes and hair become meek and grim. She wears only what she escaped in as well as the clothes generously given to her by Julien’s mom. With no mirrors or idea of her physical appearance, her look becomes simple and drab. Yet, as love and generosity become the foundation of her existence, Sara continues to exude a majestical beauty.
Julien, who’s originally shy, becomes more confident and bold as his love for Sara grows. At first, his face is hidden by his hair. Overtime, more of his face is revealed as his hair is swept away. His face and eyes seem to glow in Sara’s presence.
On the other end of the spectrum, we see the student Vincent, who is brainwashed by the French Militia, become more determined to destroy the lives of innocent people. Jem Matthews, who plays Vincent says, “you see the way Vincent treats Julien in school progress throughout the story according to how much Vincent has been brainwashed into thinking that he’s not a human being.” His character becomes more dark and dismal as the film progresses.
Then there’s Julian Alban, the grandson of Grandmere (now grown up Sara). Bryce Gheisar who plays Julian Alban says, “Julian [Alban] in this film has changed in many ways since Wonder. He’s realized that what he did was wrong, but he doesn’t really understand why.” Though this tale is about Sara and Julien, it’s truly an emotional story of redemption for Julian Alban. Helen Mirren who plays Julian’s grandmother says, “as many young teenagers do, he’s going through a difficult time when he can’t quite find his place in the world and he’s lashing out as a reaction to that.”
So many of us in our own lives struggle to find our place in the world. We see and experience the world around us, but we can’t understand the deeper why to what occurs. Through the kindness, compassion, empathy and selfless sacrifice of Julien and his family, Julien and Sara discover a deep longing within to bring light into a dark, complicated and gloomy world.
Check out other film features on SIGHT or Unsung Hero.
