Movie Review
Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo is about a father/son relationship that is put to the ultimate test when Nemo and Dad are separated. You see, Nemo and his dad, Marlin, are clown fish, and Nemo gets caught by a diver and brought home to be an aquarium fish in a dentist’s office.
The story itself is fun, and the animation is incredible, but the part about this film that merits a mention on this page is that this film dealt with the fact that Nemo was born with a difference. In this case, Nemo had an underdeveloped fin.
Nemo’s difference was treated beautifully in this film. It was acknowledged, and in some ways it was pivotal to the issues in the film. It was the excuse that Marlin used to overprotect his son. And, when it worked to his favor, Nemo used it to justify his fears. However, both learned that the difference was not something to lean upon, but rather, to look and live beyond.
There was also a very short scene that spoke to the thing we fear the most – peer comments – and I think it was handled beautifully. When other fish in the “school” commented on Nemo’s difference, Marlin immediately reacted defensively, though educationally. The other kid fish started finding things about themselves that were different and then everyone went off to their field trip. Nemo was completely accepted.
I very much appreciate Disney’s handling of the issue of differences in this film. It was not ignored, nor was it a reason to taunt and tease the fish. Nemo accepted himself and so others accepted him as well. His difference became completely secondary to his personality and his circumstance.
I give a two thumbs up on this one! Kudos to Disney for allowing that children with differences are children first.
Larry the Cable Guy
Git R Done