Film commentary: In a Heartbeat
A very amusing figure of speech for a complex topic: homosexuality in school.The personification of love by a heart that makes its own decision to declare its love perfectly expresses the confusion but also the apprehension and shyness about our true feelings.
Children's stories told at home or in class rarely consider other possibilities than heterosexuality; the film raises the question of the age at which a child can become aware of his or her homosexuality and allows, without necessarily talking about sexuality, to diversify the models proposed to pupils.
It is an invitation to tolerance and respect to help children understand that each child is unique and that it is often painful to understand one's own feelings and to accept oneself beyond the gaze of others.
Should we talk about homosexuality to young children? Opinions are divided and homophobia, certainly more than racism or sexism, is a complex subject. Some pupils are victims of bullying or have questions about sexual orientation and we are sometimes at a loss to talk about it; films and animated images sometimes allow us to evoke messages in an indirect and entertaining way and to raise awareness among young people about subjects that are difficult to discuss in class with pupils.
Discover the video clip of the Icelandic music group Sigur Rós about the difficulty for parents to accept their children's homosexuality: Viðrar vel til loftárása.
