Swallows and Amazons

It’s 1935, and the four Walker children are thrilled when their mother gives them permission to set out on a little adventure and sail their small boat to a tiny remote island in the middle of England’s Lake District. The plan is to camp there on their own, with no adults in sight. They name themselves the Swallows after their boat and set about exploring their small island kingdom, fishing for their supper and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.

But the island turns out to be disputed territory. Two local girls (who call themselves the Amazons after their boat) have claimed it as their own, and challenge the Swallows to a competition. Good-natured though it is, the children’s games take a serious turn when they all accidentally become entangled in a real-life spy plot involving someone hiding in a houseboat nearby.

Based on the classic 1930 children’s novel, Swallows and Amazons offers a light-hearted gentle adventure celebrating friendship, sibling cooperation, and the necessity of bearing responsibility. The film is not officially rated in the US, but would likely be PG, and is appropriate for the whole family, though some of the spy-plot includes some mild violence.

Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes
Rated PG
94% on Rotten Tomatoes
IMDb Parents Guide
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