This fascinating documentary is based on the true story of the Montreal Canadian family, the Pelletiers, including dad Sébastien Pelletier, mom Edith Lemay, and their children Mia (11), Léo (9), Colin (6), and Laurent (4). Edith says that daughter Mia is like a second mom to the kids.
The parents tragically learn that three of their four children have Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative disease that features cells dying little by little eventually leading to blindness. As they leave the doctor’s office, Sébastien says he feels numb and powerless. Edith mentions the difficulty of dealing with “the unknown.” The lack of possible treatments saddens their hearts.
We see a poignant scene of Edith putting eye drops in one of her boy’s eyes. It is unpleasant for him. “Just blink, Sweetie,” she says, soothingly. There is no treatment for the incurable disease and Edith comments, “You just want to believe everything will be okay.” As Sébastien says, “We’re completely overwhelmed.”
However, a little hope is offered when a specialist says the parents should fill their children with visual memories. This would come by memorable events they could hold onto after losing their sight. The parents decide to spend a year traveling with their kids to fill their eyes with stunning visual moments before it’s too late. The children’s grandparents visit before Sébastien and Edith take their brood to the skies and the many roads that lie ahead. In a humorous scene, the kids speculate on what might happen in their travels. One of the children fears a plane crash, and another is worried about scorpions in the desert. Their grandfather jokes if one of them puts him in a suitcase he will “pop out” at night!
The documentary is well filmed with the viewer feeling at times he or she is practically eavesdropping on the family. Little intimate moments are nicely played out in the film, as well as big moments in various parts of the world. We learn how the family is able to travel for months, and it is a timely occurrence that makes it all possible. Although they see some amazing sites, in the beginning one of the kids says it’s his goal to sleep on a train and to eat ice cream.
Soon the family surfs in Indonesia, rides horses in Mongolia, and drinks juice while riding on a camel! The family makes the TV news as they share one adventure after another in different parts of the world, including Egypt. They make friends as well, playing soccer with local kids in one scene. Their night vision is affected, with one child not being able to see the stars at night. They keep their hope and sense of humor. When dad Sébastien says, “We’ll see,” regarding a decision, Mia jokes, “We’ll see.” The family deals with a downpour in Malaysia, with soaked shoes and socks.
It’s not all smooth sailing as one child is stung by a small creature and winds up with a rash on the leg. Later, they enjoy riding a zipline up high and the cable car suddenly stops and won’t move for hours. They deal with the cold and hunger and thirst until a fireman rescues them. The kids are typical kids. In one scene, one child cuts in front of another, and the other kid reprimands him. “You’re not fast enough!” is the reply from the other kid. They play with a dog and seem to take in the precious moments which one day will be visible only in their memories. In one touching scene, one of the children asks their mother, “Mommy, what does it mean to be blind?” She replies, “It’s like your eyes are always closed.” The kids try fruits they have not tasted before and Ecuador winds up being another interesting stop for them. They are delighted when they ride in hot air balloons and ascend to the skies.
Leo turns ten while they travel, and Mom admits to not being ready to go home and feeling the stress as the trip ends. “It’s over,” says Mom. They are welcomed by their grandparents, but they will get to enjoy a trip to Coney Island and a new school. Onscreen we see a large map of their travels from the past year.
Content Analysis: The film shows a close-knit family who deals with great adversity. Although not showing an overt Christian worldview, it shows the love between the family quite clearly. In one scene we hear a voice in the location where they are, and the voice says, “The peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.” It is obvious the belief is of the territory. It is suitable for All Ages and might only be too mature for the very young. Kids will enjoy the adventures of the family as they visit memorable locations, the light moments of the kids, and the scenes and views of the various countries the family visits.
Think About It: Discussion topics include dealing with a serious illness, the beauty of other places in the world, and making the most of things when life becomes difficult.
The Dove Take: This wonderful documentary premiering on the National Geographic Channel on December 16 (and on Disney+ and Hulu December 17) shows a family pulling together during a terrible diagnosis for three of their four children, and this family-friendly film has earned our Dove Seal for All Ages. Parents should consult our content listing as some parents would prefer kids ages 12 and above to view the film.
