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Spellbound

"Spellbound" is a narrative which follows eight students’ journeys from winning their local spelling bee competitions to traveling to the nation’s capital in order to compete in the National Spelling Bee Contest. However, besides learning about the world of spelling bees through their individual journeys and experiences, we as the audience members are able to gain new perspectives on the passionate minds that today’s adolescents possess.

The first part of "Spellbound" introduces eight students from various parts of the country. These adolescents are also from different classes, ethnicities, genders and families. One girl and her family are originally from Mexico. Another girl’s parents are from India. One boy lives in a ritzy suburb in California, while another boy lives in an extremely rural location in Missouri. These children are all from such different environments and atmospheres. However, they all share one common goal of winning the 1999 National Spelling Bee and join with close to 250 other contestants in Washington D.C. to achieve that goal. Besides their own hopes and dreams, we are also presented with their parents and teachers’ hopes and dreams for them. In this light we are able to see their perspectives and diverse situations in life.

Although this movie teaches the importance of education, it also stresses the importance for goals and dreams. Most people do not view spelling bees as the most interesting event. However, to these eight students they mean the world. These youths have spent and sacrificed time, friends and family for the chance of competing in what to them, is the most important event in their lives. We all have passions. What makes ours so different from theirs? This film answers that question by suggesting that they aren’t different at all. Though we come from different places and face unique challenges, we all have dreams. No dream is greater or better than another and the fact that we all have them is what connects us to each other. In essence, it is our hope that binds us.

Written by: Amy Hillard

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