Parents' Guide to

Camp Courage

By Jennifer Green, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Uplifting docu tackles trauma of war and its impact on kids.

Movie PG 2023 33 minutes
Camp Courage: Short documentary addresses victims of war.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Camp Courage: Milana and Olga.
  • Camp Courage: Atop the Alps.
  • Camp Courage: Olga gets advice.
  • Camp Courage: Iraqi war veteran works at the camp.
  • Camp Courage: Milana and others by the Ukrainian flag.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

practiceinpublic
practiceinpublic Parent of 9-year-old
January 14, 2024
age 10+

Good way to show kids how war can affect them and those abroad and how people seek recovery afterward.

Really great perspective on the aftermath of war and how it affects children without being in the setting of war during the film. Highlights some of the effects of the emotional trauma from the perspective of the main character and her grandmother, who now cares for her. Is hopeful and shows children are still able to experience some joy even though they've experienced hardship. Was good for our son to see some of the real effects of war. There are some brief archival footage of explosions and a news report at the beginning about a building being bombed and collapsing leading into the story of the main character who lost her mother.
Annaflower1
Annaflower1 Parent of 11 and 13-year-old
November 5, 2023
age 10+

Beautiful, human story of hope coming out of war

I watched this with my 13 and 11 year old daughters. We all found it moving, and it deepened our understanding of what it is like for people caught up in war. But the tone was hopeful, there were no graphic images of violence, and we felt uplifted rather than depressed at the end.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As a toddler, CAMP COURAGE star Milana lost a part of one leg in an explosion in the Russia-Ukraine war in 2015. She also lost her mother, so her grandmother Olga has been caring for her ever since. Eight years later, the two are joining a group of other families affected by the war in Ukraine invited to a weeklong camp in Austria, where they will be given opportunities to push their own boundaries in ways that will help them heal and grow.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This short film packs a big punch. Focused on the story of a little girl and her grandmother, Camp Courage is filmed with affection and aplomb. It weaves together personal photos and videos with news clips and more recent footage to convey messages about war and its impact on humans of all ages. One emotional sequence involves a camp organizer who is an Iraq war vet. He breaks down connecting his own participation in a war that "took childhoods away" to his healing through helping kids today impacted by the war in Ukraine. "We're all broken," he says. But that's not what this film shows. This film shows love, connection, and healing. You can't manufacture emotions and moments like these, and it seems to be a message the world is in need of -- now more than ever.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war that impacted the main characters of Camp Courage. What is happening today versus in 2015, when Milana was injured? Where can you find more information?

  • How do the different people profiled in this film demonstrate courage, resilience, and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?

  • Milana and her grandmother Olga get testy with each other at moments. Olga consults a woman who appears to be a counselor about it. What advice does she get? How does Milana later apologize to her grandmother?

  • What do you think Milana learned at the camp?

Movie Details

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