User:Patrick/Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film) (talk, backlinks, history edit)

Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is an aspiring yet shy elementary school boy living in a financially-struggling family, with four sisters. Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb) is the new girl at Jess's school, just arriving on the school's athletics day. Leslie participates in a running match, despite her classmates calling it a "boys only" race. She wins: Jesse used to be the fastest runner of his class, but Leslie is even faster. Jess is, at first, quite sour about this and wants nothing to do with Leslie, who happens to be a neighbor too, but Leslie's persistence in meeting him soon pays off, with the two becoming friends. Both are sometimes ridiculed by classmates: Jesse for example for wearing girl's sneakers (even though Jesse, who was embarrassed, tried to paint over the pink stripes with a black marker pen; he had rather put on his old sneakers, but his mother had thrown them away, judging that the pink sneakers of one of his sisters were more suitable), and Leslie for having no TV at home (because her parents say it is bad for her brain).

Jess shares his secret love of drawing with Leslie; Leslie shares with Jess her love of fantasy stories. Together they venture into the woods, where they swing across a rope and find a tree house on the other side. Here, the two friends invent a whole new world, Terabithia, which comes to life through their eyes, and which they explore together; it is a world with partly aggressive and partly gentle fantasy animals, and a friendly giant troll. The film shows this world, and is not clear about whether the characters imagine this or actually experience it.

They gain courage and self-confidence. Back in the "real" world, Jesse becomes more kind to people, while on the other hand they stand up against bullies at their school, and Jess continues to deal with his family going through financial problems. They learn about problems of an older girl who used to be their worst bully, and now feel sympathy for her, and try to help her.

Leslie gives Jess an unexpected birthday present, an art kit, and Jess gives Leslie a dog (Prince Terrien) in return, much to both of the children's happiness. Later on, Jess's music teacher, Ms. Edmunds (Zooey Deschanel), notices Jess's artistic skills and decides to take him on a field trip to an art museum. Jess has an unspoken crush on the teacher and does not want to share the trip with Leslie, so he goes to the museum alone.

When Jess returns home, his father (Robert Patrick) tells him horrific news: Leslie has died after trying to swing across the rope over a rain-swollen river, falling into the river and drowning when the rope breaks. Jess can't believe that she is dead and calls his family liars; he runs to Leslie's house, and sees police cars which seem to confirm the tragedy. Nevertheless he starts searching for her in Terabithia. He thinks he hears her, but it is his sister, May Belle Aarons (Bailee Madison); she got into trouble when trying to enter Terabithia over a tree bridge; Jesse helps her, but then sends her rudely away. May Belle is shocked about her big brother being so unkind.

Jess suffers much grief, and he and his parents attend the funeral together. He feels overwhelming guilt for Leslie's death, thinking that it would not have happened had he invited Leslie along on his trip with Ms. Edmunds. He is consoled by his father that their intense friendship should be kept alive for her sake. So, Jess re-imagines Terabithia. He apologizes to May Belle for his rudeness and invites her to be princess of Terabithia, after he has built a bridge across the river to welcome her; she is delighted. She and Jess bring back Terabithia in even greater splendor; Jess the king and his sister the princess. They rule over the free peoples of the kingdom together.

Miscellaneous:

Jesse and his family go to church each Sunday, Leslie never. On one occasion she joins the family. While normally always wearing pants, for the occasion, as required, she wears a dress. However, to Jesse's surprise she wears her usual boots instead of shoes considered more appropriate for the church.