Louis Zamperini was a very young man when World War 2 broke out. In fact, he was just embarking on an amazing journey as an Olympic athlete when he was called away to fight in the war.
Not only was he a valiant soldier, but he was also shot down and stranded in the ocean for many days and then became a prisoner of war in Japan for many months! His pre/during war-time life story is truly amazing … but that was only the beginning of what God had planned for him.
Watch the movie about Louis Zamperini and the true story about his life after serving in the second world war and then teach your kids about him using the kid-friendly suggestions shared here! Unbroken: Path To Redemption was a great movie to watch with my husband for a date night and I am glad to recommend it and share my brief review below.
Resources About Louis Zamperini
Louis Zamperini: Redemption (Heroes of History)Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and RedemptionDevil at My Heels: A Heroic Olympian’s Astonishing Story of Survival as a Japanese POW in World War IILouis Zamperini: Survivor and Champion (Heroes of History for Young Readers)Louis Zamperini: Captured By GraceUnbroken
Louis Zamperini – Unbroken: Path To Redemption
This movie is a sequel to Unbroken, which is all about his life before – and his service during – WW2 and the years he was a POW in Japan. If you haven’t watched it yet, I recommend that you do (available to rent from Amazon) and then you’ll appreciate Path To Redemption more.
However, this movie can stand on its own, too. Starting as he returns home from being a POW, you see Louis receive a hero’s welcome by his family, friends, and country.
He struggles with adjusting to life after war and has flashbacks to his time as a POW (where he was tortured). He turns to alcohol and becomes an alcoholic.
In the midst of this, he meets a woman who becomes his wife. He feels like he is “all better”, but soon the PTSD rears its ugly head again and before long, he can no longer hide the outbursts and alcoholism from his wife and baby.
Living in a state of fear and denial, Louis pushes his wife & baby away. Soon his wife threatens to leave him.
His wife attends a revival meeting and becomes a Christian. With new hope & faith, she makes the choice to stand beside Louis and help him overcome his pain.
Louis, an Olympic champion before the war, struggles with finding a job, facing his “demons”, and loving his wife. The burden of it all is too much for him to carry alone.
Finally hitting “rock bottom” he reluctantly attends a church service with his wife – more than once – and he finds the peace & forgiveness that overcomes all! “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Things To Consider
I don’t think this movie is for kids. Maybe ages 16+ would be able to handle the content.
No swearing, but alcoholism and violence (war & domestic) is throughout.
For some viewers, a scene with his (future) wife in a bathing suit on the beach may be considered “questionable” content, though it is modest compared to nowadays!
To summarize: this is a Christian movie that touches on marriage issues, PTSD, and alcoholism while leading Louis and the viewer through a journey of brokenness to redemption in Jesus Christ.
Kid-Friendly Resources About Louis Zamperini
Unbroken: An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive for 13+
Louis Zamperini: Redemption (Heroes of History) for 10+
Louis Zamperini: Survivor and Champion (Heroes of History for Young Readers) for 5+
Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway(closed). Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
My favorite time period to study with kids is medieval times. As an adult though I love the early 1900’s
Thanks for the resources and the synopsis of the film.
My favorite time period is whichever one my daughter is excited and interested in at the time.
It’s difficult to choose just one, but we probably enjoy the Middle Ages the most.
THere are a few I enjoy, but we really do love studying around ww2 because we have been to japan and like studying about all aspects of their country.
My favorite time period to study with the kids is 1900-1980. I love to relate it to our family tree as much as possible!
My kids seem the most interested in World War II.
My favorite would have to be during the early Roman Empire!
My favorite would probably be the 1700’s.
Our favorite time period is middle ages
My child and I have loved learning about American history, and particularly about the presence of native Americans here, and the role they have played in our country’s initial successes. We have read about it, taken several field trips, and are learning more all of the time. My daughter is proud of her Cherokee heritage.
I really enjoyed teaching about the middle ages.
I enjoy American History.
World war two because my dad lived it!
Civil war. God bless.
We love history. Our favorite time to study so far is the civil war.
Our favorite time period is the WWII era.
WWII because my grandfather was in that war.
We have loved reading about American Pioneers.
I love to study the early 1900’s with my kids. I also really enjoy the 1950’s.
The colonial time period.
History is my favorite subject to teach. We enjoy every time period while we are studying it! The Bible is ultimately our all time favorite living history! 🙂
I love studying the pioneers
Our favorites Tom. Just studying is Medieval Times.
In 1845.