AnnaSophia Robb / Bridge to Terabithia

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I watched the movie for the first time on January 8th, when it was showing on "Rossiya"... It was still the holiday break then, so I was officially idling) And my parents, forgetting to wake me up, went to congratulate someone (the celebration continues!). I got up then, went to brew some tea, and turned on the TV in the kitchen. And most importantly, my mood was sooo lazy; I didn't want to go anywhere (especially since I'd had enough of walking yesterday)), I just wanted to flop onto the sofa and watch something heartfelt, just to kill time while warming myself under a blanket...
Then I started flipping through the channels, and completely by chance (coincidences aren't coincidences after all) I saw Leslie as she waved goodbye to a departing bus, smiling so sweetly while doing it... In short, I was stunned when I saw her and decided to watch... generally, I wouldn't have watched a naive children's fairy tale, especially if my parents were home; if they had been watching, I would have switched the channel with a shout of "trash!" Although... actually, in my soul, for some reason, I liked those calm, carefree movies.
I immediately remembered a "great" moment where this sweet girl with sunlight in her hair was ziplining on a rope across a river. This probably brought back memories of my summer days when we spent time carelessly on sun-warmed beaches as children, and it reminded me of flight... the flight of the soul; everything was exactly like how easily that girl looked through our souls into the cloudless sky. I immediately felt just as light and warm; not knowing why, I understood that this scene was warming my soul; I held my breath. And I couldn't exhale.
Then the fairy tale rushed on, flowing into my touched heart and sleepy mind. Joyfully, like a child, I looked at all those happy faces; Jess was lucky—the teacher took him to the museum. Watching how he traced his fingers over a book with an educational drawing of a face, I remembered myself. As in many other moments, I saw myself in Leslie, in how similarly we both relate to life. The dreamy glint in her eyes reflected all of me...
But then Jess's mother comes running and he stands under the stern, helpless gaze of his family, brrr... I even felt a lump in my throat) And then those words—"Your friend Leslie has died."
I choked on a cookie. And after that, I watched through a fog.
At first, like Jess, I thought it was a joke. And smirking, but with terrible anxiety in my heart, I grabbed the phone and with the same dexterity I used to cheat during lessons, I went to Wikipedia during this endless commercial break; seeing the word "dies" again, I trembled with despair (yes yes, just like a rag—I told myself proudly)). I simply couldn't do anything about it anymore; tears flowed on their own. I cried out of despair, because my heart ached, cut by shards of ice, and simply out of self-pity. I couldn't remember the last time it had been like this. Perhaps never
But as I later realized, these tears were cleansing.
And at the very end, in the eyes of Jess looking at his Terabithia, I saw Leslie again.
Then, in shock, I kept watching the TV, hoping that they would show her again now, show an alternative ending or God knows what... But something will be shown. No! They must! They have to! They couldn't just kill her like that! Bastards! Then I'll kill you all, and then I'll die myself!.. Then I sat back on the sofa and cried again. I felt pathetic. Nothing saved her from a death she didn't deserve in any way. What is the point of fate leaving me alive then, if I am sinful and it was I, ME! who should have gone instead of her! Tears again. A pathetic lump, knees tucked, whimpering on the sofa, alone in the apartment... and nothing else, silence! And all this terribly frightened my consciousness, making me think about the hopelessness of existence. As if there is no light in this world... Only Leslie's innocent little face shone before my eyes.
I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything—why bother? Everything vanished in an instant, lost its meaning.
To be honest, I thought then that AnnaSophia is an angel. That thought spun around in my head.
And so I went to look for info on the internet, reading reviews while sometimes smiling and sometimes shedding tears. Everything around me convinced me of her unearthly kindness. I also found 2 fan sites. I read the book almost immediately, and suffered for a long time over the loss, although I hadn't lost anything at all... And about five days later, I felt a huge spiritual lift; I wanted to laugh and enjoy life; life seemed even more beautiful and sweeter than before. I learned this lesson.

I don't know why I turned my gaze specifically toward the actress then (do I sound cold? No, she will always be a bright ray of light for us!), probably I just didn't want to let go of Leslie; I clung to every branch as I fell from the treetop. But eventually, I began to understand that ASR is not similar—she is not Leslie, or rather

you know who

not exactly

But well, this left me a huge space for reflection... both Leslie and AnnaSophia, and the synonymity of these words
Now I will probably never forget the Bridge, and that light it gave to my soul and what was so lacking... in this gray world. Now I believe in kindness and want to share it with everyone. I finally dropped all the masks I used to cover my face... And I am happy because of it!

Well, there you go, I've opened up my soul a bit. That's how it is.

Other worthy, good comments.

KlarKKenT

Well then, someone needs to post a review; I suggest mine)
At first, I was very surprised when I came to this movie. I mean, I thought it would be a kind fairy tale with a happy ending, something like "The Chronicles of Narnia." This is probably because of the trailer, which positions the film that way, and my ignorance of the book the movie was based on (what a shame!)
So when the movie started, I was, you could say, shocked. But then AnnaSophia aka Leslie Burke appeared. She was wonderful, charming, and insanely beautiful. She was like an angel, but still, I was a bit disappointed; I thought: "Well, just an ordinary moral story about school." But how wrong I was! The movie very deeply touches upon questions of faith and religion, life and death; it makes you think, look deep inside yourself, and you think about it for a long time after watching.
And yet, despite the wonderful source material, the great director, and the excellent editing, the film would not have been so good if not for the acting of AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson. They are so sincere, there isn't a drop of falsehood in them, and they truly make you believe in them. You want to be there with them, climb trees, run through fields, and see Terabithia! To feel that freedom, that happiness experienced in childhood, running happily through parks/forests. By the end of the viewing, you become so attached to the characters that it's completely unwanted and unthinkable to part with them.
The movie is simply wonderful!
I recommend everyone watch it!
My rating: 10/10

Jess

So much has already been said here, all my thoughts have been laid out, that there's nothing to add. I can only say that the movie very much reminds me of my childhood. The same romance, the same emotions. The ending surprised me a lot; I expected a kind story with a happy ending. It was very heavy on the soul after watching; I didn't want to part with the characters or the atmosphere of the film. But analyzing the whole story, I realized that the ending is actually good. Remember what Jess was like at the beginning: a withdrawn but unusual boy who drew well and was in love with his teacher, having not one truly close person in the whole world to whom he could open his soul or share all his worries. And suddenly a new girl comes to class—Leslie, just as unusual as he is. At first, he feels dislike for her; she beats him in a competition where he was the clear leader. But during the movie, the sympathy between them grows. And they create their own secret world, their own kingdom. In their world, everything was analogous to reality. I mean, Terabithia had the same enemies (if you remember, the name of one of the monsters consisted of the names of two bullies from their class, and the scary troll, who became their friend toward the end of the movie, was an analogue of Janice—the school bully). The stories of the real and fictional worlds intersected. The only thing that differed was that they were king and queen. They could solve all their problems in this world, defeat all their enemies, and subsequently defeat their enemies in real life.
Their sympathy would have grown into true love if not for a stupid death. After all, Jess could have taken Leslie with him on the excursion. Here, it seems to me, the author wanted to show how we sometimes do not value our happiness; this meaningless death, which might not have happened, is the ultimate punishment for neglect. And it's useless that Jess later blames himself for her death, because he is not at fault; he would have done everything to change that fateful day, to save her, but he cannot...
And the snapped rope... The rope leading them to a secret world, only for the two of them. It didn't become the cause of Leslie's death for no reason. I think it shows here that what leads us toward something good, toward happiness, toward salvation, can change its direction to the opposite at any moment. What was salvation for Leslie and Jess from people who didn't understand them, from a world that didn't understand them, brought death to Leslie, and in a way, shook Jess to the very depths of his soul. Or maybe Leslie didn't belong in our world? Leslie was so unlike other people, so extraordinary and magical. Maybe the rope really became a road to salvation from an uncomprehending world toward something better? I don't know for sure; these are all my guesses, which may be absolutely wrong.
Let's return to Jess. If you compare him at the beginning of the movie and at the end, there is a very substantial difference. In such a short time, Leslie was able to change a person and his view of the world so much. All his life, Jess will remember that girl named Leslie who taught him how to feel again, taught him how to live. Perhaps this is the main point of the story? Again, I don't know.
And if you recall, Jess wasn't the only one Leslie changed. There was also Janice, the bully who gave younger students no peace. Who would have thought that some "snot-nosed kid" could reason with this "bad girl." But Leslie could. This again shows how unusual she was. To connect with people like that, whether enemy or friend, to understand their sorrows and joys in such a way—that is simply TALENT and MAGIC.
Maybe Leslie was needed just to change Jess? Was she sent from above for this, and then taken back? I can only guess, see many ideas in this picture; such deep meaning is embedded in this story full of drama.
The only thing I can say for sure is that this movie touched me to the depths of my soul and fundamentally changed my perceptions of essential things.

A few frames and fan-art:)