Watch Molly's Pilgrim

Molly's Pilgrim is a heartwarming and thought-provoking family movie from 1985 that tells the story of a young Russian Jewish immigrant girl named Molly and her experience adapting to a new culture in America. The movie is based on the 1983 children's book of the same name by Barbara Cohen. Molly's Pilgrim is set in a small town in upstate New York in the early 1900s. It opens with Molly (played by Lilly Balaban) arriving at her new school, where she struggles to fit in with her classmates. Molly's thick Russian accent and unfamiliar clothing make her stand out, and she quickly becomes the target of bullying and teasing.

Despite her difficulties, Molly is determined to make a fresh start and make a new life in America with her parents. She is eager to learn and impress her classmates with her intelligence, but the challenges seem insurmountable to her. That is until her classroom teacher Miss Stickley (played by Jessica Bertan) assigns a special Thanksgiving project that gives Molly a newfound appreciation for her heritage and self-confidence.

Molly's Pilgrim is a story about cultural diversity, acceptance, and perseverance, told through the eyes of a courageous young girl. Throughout the movie, Molly struggles to adapt to American customs and the English language, often feeling lost and out of place. Her parents try to encourage her, but they are struggling with their own sense of displacement and insecurity.

Despite the challenges, Molly draws strength from her mother's story of the pilgrims, who came to America from England seeking religious freedom. Molly's mother tells her that they too are pilgrims, who have come to America to escape persecution and start a new life. Molly takes this to heart and decides to create a unique pilgrim doll for her school project, based on her mother's description of a traditional Russian dress.

Molly's doll is unlike anything her classmates have ever seen, and they ridicule it as ugly and strange. But when Miss Stickley realizes the significance of Molly's doll and shares the story of the pilgrims with the class, the children start to understand the value of cultural diversity and the importance of respecting different traditions.

Molly's Pilgrim is a touching and inspiring movie that teaches important lessons about acceptance and tolerance. The performances by the cast are excellent, particularly Lilly Balaban as Molly, who is convincing and endearing in her portrayal of a young immigrant girl trying to find her place in a new world. Jessica Bertan is also outstanding as Miss Stickley, who recognizes and encourages Molly's unique talents and identity.

Travis Blank's direction is sensitive and compassionate, capturing the struggles and joys of immigrant life without relying on sentimentalism or stereotypes. The movie is also visually stunning, with captivating cinematography that brings the setting and characters to life.

Overall, Molly's Pilgrim is a compelling and entertaining family movie that will appeal to audiences of all ages. It is a reminder that cultural diversity is a strength to be celebrated, and that we can all learn from the experiences and perspectives of others.

Molly's Pilgrim is a 1985 short with a runtime of 24 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7.