If the World Were a Village DVD Review
Master Communications Film Based on David J. Smith Children's Book
Sep 29, 2009
Master Communications has adapted David J. Smith and Shelagh Armstrong's award-winning children's book If the World Were a Village: a Book About the World's People into a 25-minute animated DVD.
It's a great way to present the world and its issues in perspective, but the DVD's presentation and narration may alienate smarter, and older, kids.
Master Communications Adapts Kids Can Press' If the World Were a Village: a Story About the World's People, Written and Illustrated by David J. Smith and Shelagh Armstrong
At its heart, If the World Were a Village is a fascinating thought experiment: what would the world look like if it were a village of only 100 people? How many of those people would be children, and how many would be middle-aged? How many would be Christians or Muslims? How many would have access to clean water, electricity or education?
It's a great way to express these burning issues in a manner that everyone can understand, and it offers a quiet plea for a little more peace, love and understanding. Okay, a little more than quiet: there are so many doves flying around carrying olive branches in this DVD that you wonder why everyone isn't wearing a hat at all times.
Despite that minor niggle, with the ingenious simplicity that If the World Were a Village presents this giant mudball we call Earth and all its people, this review would be a slam-dunk, right? Not quite.
A large chunk of the problem lies with narrator Jackie Richardson, who speaks with the kind of sing-songy voice adults use when they have no idea how to talk to children.
It may not bother younger children, but kids with higher IQ's or a few more years under their belts might start grinding their teeth at Richardson's patronizing delivery (you can just imagine how he would go over with the 10-year-olds of South Park). In addition, the jokes inserted into the story are hit-and-miss: the grinning camel is a nice touch but some of the other G-rated gags work too hard for the giggle.
DVD Extras
You can watch If the World Were a Village in English, French or Spanish, and there's a static image giving you Master Communication's contact information should you want more for your study group, classroom, etc. You can also use the DVD case as a house, a raft, a pterodactyl . . .
The Final Analysis
If the World Were a Village is an interesting thought experiment, and it presents many important issues in a clear, easy-to-understand way. You can't fault this DVD's intentions but its patronizing tone will turn off older and more precocious children.
It gets a 6/10.
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