MADELINE
Childhood in Paris
Should You Watch It?
If you want a clean, wholesome movie for your daughter, Madeline is a fine choice. Its Parisian setting is beautiful, its acting and music are fresh, and its story includes prayers, thanks to God, moral lessons, and a good-hearted child learning to love someone who has been difficult to love.
The film’s main weakness is its structure. It weaves four children’s stories together, so it can feel like one small incident after another rather than a tightly driven adventure. The action is also mild, which may leave some boys uninterested.
For a family-friendly movie with very little objectionable material, take Madeline to your home or classroom movie time.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESMadeline is a precocious redheaded girl living at a school in Paris with her classmates and their benevolent teacher, Miss Clavel. When the school’s owner, Lord Covington, considers closing it, Madeline and the other girls face the possibility of losing their home.
Along the way, Madeline explores Paris, befriends a dog, and encounters the mischievous Pepito, the son of a Spanish ambassador. Her courage and childlike clarity soon draw her into an adventure involving the school’s future.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means Madeline is a good but imperfect children’s movie. The Paris cityscapes are very beautiful, while the acting and music are fresh. The story also introduces children to French history, French architecture, and fine art.
The screenplay is less cohesive because it combines four short Madeline stories. It often feels as though one incident simply follows another, while the school’s central problem receives limited attention. Still, the movie’s charm and wholesome spirit make it a fine effort based on a classic children’s series.
The Worldview
Madeline presents a mild Christian worldview through prayer, gratitude to God, moral lessons, and respect for authority. Miss Clavel prays before dinner and before bed, and she says that she prays on her day off. The movie treats love, patience, understanding, perseverance, and asking forgiveness as virtues.
Madeline is active and precocious rather than truly rebellious. She has a good heart, learns lessons, and ultimately shows respect for authority. Most importantly, she demonstrates love toward someone she has struggled to love.
The film also includes some lying that is rebuked, a minor element of false religion, and other small moral failings. Yet its overall message is that compassion, perseverance, and understanding can help restore what is threatened.
The movie’s central call to love difficult people reflects Scripture: “Love is patient and kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Mild Christian worldview with Christian prayers & thanking the Lord & many moral elements including love, patience, understanding, perseverance, & asking forgiveness; 2 uses of the word "damn," 4 mild French obscenities & a few name-callings; no violence but some action including girl falling into river & girls run away from mice; no sex; no nudity; no alcohol use; no smoking; and, miscellaneous immorality including girl kidnapped, boy kicks over statue, man steps in dog excrement, girl threatens to run away, a minor element of false religion, & some lying rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Madeline finds it difficult to love someone who has been difficult to love. What does Scripture say love looks like when feelings are hard?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Matthew 5:44Miss Clavel prays before meals and bedtime. When do you thank God, and how does prayer change the way you face trouble?
Philippians 4:6–7 · 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18Madeline is active and precocious but ultimately learns to respect authority. How can courage and obedience work together?
Ephesians 6:1–3 · Hebrews 13:17The story includes lessons about perseverance and asking forgiveness. Why are both important when we have done wrong or face something difficult?
Colossians 3:12–13 · James 1:2–4The Final Word
Madeline offers children a beautiful Parisian setting, fresh performances, gentle humor, and a wholesome moral spirit. Its episodic story may appeal more to girls than boys, but families looking for clean entertainment can confidently choose it. WORTH THE TRIP.
