Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Saige Paints the Sky is the latest live-action movie based on an American Girl doll; this time, it's the 2013 Girl of the Year Saige Copeland -- a 9-year-old artist from Albuquerque. The movie is full of positive messages like facing and overcoming your fears, leaning on friends and family for encouragement and support, and finding your voice/standing up when you want to make a difference. Saige deals with a variety of issues, from her grandmother being injured to her best friend bonding with a new girl, and her favorite class (art) getting cut from the school curriculum. Young viewers will be inspired to not sit idly by when they could be an agent for change.
Sexual
Content
Not applicable.
Violence
The grandmother trips, breaks bones, and is hospitalized for her injuries. She's wheelchair-bound for the rest of the movie. On a couple of occasions, Saige gets overwhelmed in public situations and has mini-breakdowns where she can't speak.
Language
Saige, usually soft-spoken, lashes out and screams at Dylan for being "totally annoying" and saying "I'm so sick of you!"
Social
Behavior
"The causes most worth fighting for are the ones you don't know you can win," Saige's grandmother tells her, and the girl takes the adage to heart. Saige is inspired by her grandmother to make a difference and take action to try to save the art program at her school. Saige and her friends ultimately work together, even though they have different ideas, to raise funds. The importance of hard work, practice, dedication, optimism, and patience is stressed throughout the movie.
Consumerism
The movie is part of the American Girl empire, which includes dolls and merchandise, as well as lots of books and DVDs.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Not applicable
