‘White Bird’: A Moving WWII Drama That Speaks To Today

Hitting theaters on Oct. 4, White Bird has been a long time coming to the screen, and its centerpiece story took place 80-odd years ago. But like any truly good tale, it speaks as much to the present as about the past.

How long has White Bird been waiting for a release date? From Deadline:

Shot in the Czech Republic in February 2021, White Bird was initially set as a wide release in September 2022, delayed a month to October then taken off Lionsgate‘s release schedule entirely before either of those dates came around. It was then scheduled for an August 2023 opening, but last year’s SAG strike meant another delay until it was finally set several months ago for its October 4 release this Friday.

White Bird Is From, But Not of, Kingdom Story Company

When I saw a preview of the film in Orange County, California, Andrew Erwin of Kingdom Story Company, the faith-based division of studio/distributor Lionsgate, spoke on screen beforehand. The screening was part of Kingdom’s regular efforts to reach out to faith leaders, pastors and their congregations.

But, while Kingdom is involved, it wasn’t the driver behind this film getting made. One of White Bird’s production companies, Participant, has even subsequently gone out of business.

Also, Deadline says:

… another, Mandeville Films, has seen the split of its partners Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman, who share producer credit here with Palacio. It distributor Lionsgate has also gone under big executive changes at the top, with Adam Fogelson taking charge of movies.

The studio at some point also brought in its faith-based label, Kingdom Story Company (I Can Only Imagine, Jesus Revolution) to help find it an audience …

Kingdom may be doing a lot of the outreach, but the true heart of this film is in the 2017 Lionsgate movie Wonder.

It’s Both a Wonder Sequel and Prequel

Based on the children’s novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio, Wonder follows a homeschooled boy (Jacob Tremblay) with a rare facial deformity, who faces bullies — but also finds friends — when he goes to a private middle school.

The connective tissue between Wonder and White Bird (co-written by Palacio, based on her graphic novel) is the character of Julian Albans (Bryce Gheiser).

Expelled for being one of the Wonder bullies, he’s landed at a new private school. When he witnesses mistreatment of another student, Julian has to decide whether to stand up.

There to help him make the choice is his French Jewish grandmother, artist Sara Blum (Helen Mirren). She tells him about her youth in Nazi-occupied France in 1942.

Forced to flee from her Christian school (not sure exactly what sort of Christian school), teenage Sara (Ariella Glaser) falls under the protection of Christian classmate Julien (Orlando Schwerdt), who’s bullied because of a deformed leg.

Julien conceals Sara in a barn near his home. Later, she also meets his mother and father (Gillian Anderson, Jo Stone-Fewings), who care for her and become surrogate parents.

Like Anne Frank, Sara’s world collapses to a single hiding place. But with the help of Julien and his parents, the confinement becomes less of a punishment. Inspiring her are the appearances of a white bird (which may or may not be a heavenly messenger).

Obviously, Sara survives to become a grandmother, but the war still exacts a terrible price.

The Courage to Be Kind

The core message of White Bird is that acts of kindness can change lives and, by extension, the world — and that, sometimes, kindness takes true courage. In our modern society, where too often it’s attack first and think later (if at all), it’s a timely message.

And, in the between when the film was shot and its release, antisemitism has risen sharply around the world, and especially on America’s urban streets and elite college campuses.

White Bird is a reminder of what can happen when that kind of hate and bigotry is given free rein.

Mirren, as she always does, gives an impeccable performance, full of wit as well as wisdom. Among the other adult actors, Anderson is excellent as a woman trying to protect both her child and someone else’s.

Glaser and Schwerdt are believable and charming as youngsters trying to find joy in the middle of an impossible situation.

As for faith, Sara’s Judaism and her protectors’ Christianity are a major underpinning of the story, but the real core of the film are universal ideas of compassion, guts and love for your fellow man.

Should Families See White Bird?

White Bird is rated PG-13 and earns it, in terms of tension, violence and cruelty. But, it’s a worthy film for middle-schoolers and up, and should spark deep conversations between friends and in families.