“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. In two straight lines they broke their bread and brushed their teeth and went to bed. They smiled at the good and frowned at the bad and sometimes they were very sad. They left the house at half past nine in two straight lines in rain or shine — the smallest one was Madeline.”
Growing up as a teenager I loved the Madeline books. Because I was studying French, I thought I was clever because I could also read the French version. From memory, the opening paragraph of the movie (above) is also the opening paragraph of the books. I like this as it automatically places you in the scene, allowing you to understand the order, values and safety in their lives.
Recently, I watched Madeline again, reliving many memories from my younger years. Madeline, (the only orphan of the group) is always getting into trouble but she has a big heart and connects easily with people of all ages. She and her friends have many adventures or break outs from the order of their lives—each one dealing with many different issues. Somehow, having these issues or movie themes addressed in a children’s movie seems to give them more power. The themes and life lessons I found Miss Clavel and her twelve little girls address through their adventures include:
1.Problem solving skills
2. Loyalty
3. The importance of friendships
4. Abandonment
5. Speaking your mind
6. Stray animals
7. Believing in yourself
8. Class distinction
9. Connecting with others
10. Standing up for what you believe in
11. Looking after each other
12. Orphans
13. Greed
14. Animal rights
15. PETA (People for the ethical treatment of animals)
16. Peer pressure
17. Hospitalization
18. Fun
19. Loss/Death
20. Change
21. Rich verses poor
22. Paris lifestyle
23. The Arts
24. Children’s education
25. Criminal activity
26. Rescuing others
27. Animal instincts
28. Attempting to fit into society
29. Vegetarianism
30. Family traditions
Next time you are considering a movie for all generations give Madeline a try. It has something for everyone. For a young girl Madeline has a strong and lovable personality. The movie has many lovable characters and has someone for everyone. Which movie character do you connect with the most?
When our daughter, Madeleine, was born my sister gave us a couple of Madleine books and like you I remember that first part word for word. When kids have a favourite book you read it and read it and read it. I loved the Madeline character too. 🙂