

The scene where she saves the (very cute!) squirrel from the hawk was well-staged, and I liked the resourceful deployment of common things around the house to tell the story, like climbing the stairway as though it’s a mountain, or having a mattress stand in for the boulder that is trapping Long Arrow in a cave, or using the swaying of a hammock to portray the rough voyage across the ocean. I appreciated how the main character and her situation were made clear right away, so that the audience can quickly get their bearings. Judges’ Remarks: An adorable adaptation of the book! The charming voiceover narration told the story quickly and accurately, providing a good counterpoint to the onscreen action without overwhelming it.

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
