Year: 1997
Tagline: "An unforgettable fable that proves love, family, and imagination conquer all."
Reasons they need to see it: I saw this movie in middle school Italian class, and it has stuck with me for my entire life. The poignant moments between Guido and his son are impossible to interpret as anything other than unconditional love, and the way humour is injected into such a difficult time period is truly inspiring. Your kids will laugh at Guido’s carefree spirit and well-timed jokes, but will also learn a fair amount about the seriousness of World War II and concentration camps, a huge part of history that textbooks can't put into perspective the way this film does.
What to look out for: It deals with difficult concepts, and does take place during World War II, which means guns, Nazis, and some potentially frightening situations that younger tweens might not be able to handle — save this one to watch with your teenager.