‘Vicky and Her Mystery,’ also known as ‘Mystère,’ is a touching family adventure film about animal and child love. The film is directed by Denis Imbert and follows Victoria, an eight-year-old girl who stops talking owing to her grief over her mother’s death. Her move to Cantal with her father makes things worse for her until one day while strolling in the woods, she comes upon an adorable puppy. She decides to keep the puppy and names him Mystère, and the two form a lovely friendship that finally helps Victoria heal and reclaim her voice.
Mystère, on the other hand, turns out to be a wolf pup, and Victoria now has to fight against all odds to keep him from being taken away or worse, being hunted down. Despite the fact that Mystère is a deadly wild animal, he loves and protects Victoria wholeheartedly. ‘Vicky and Her Mystery’ will melt the hearts of animal lovers everywhere by presenting the true affection and innocence of animals and children. If you want to see more films like this, we have a wonderful list of suggestions for you! Most of these films related to ‘Vicky and Her Mystery’ are available on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
Duma (2005)
‘Duma,’ directed by Carroll Ballard and starring Alexander Michaletos, Eamonn Walker, Campbell Scott, and Hope Davis, is a family adventure film. The story revolves around Xan, a young boy who comes across an orphaned cheetah cub on the side of the road and tries to save and raise him. Xan calls him Duma, and despite his father Peter’s initial reluctance, the cheetah gradually becomes a member of the family. However, Peter believes that when Duma matures, he should be reunited with his natural habitat.
Xan finally accepts for Duma’s sake, despite his initial reluctance, but Peter dies before they can carry out their plan. When Xan takes on the task, he and Duma experience several difficulties along the way, but they pull each other out of them with the help of Ripkuna, a mysterious vagrant. Finally, Xan is able to return Duma to the mountains, where he belongs.
The conclusion is evocative of ‘Vicky and Her Mystery,’ culminating in a mission to return a wild animal to its natural habitat. Similarly to how Vicky saves the wolf Mystère and chooses to raise him despite her father Stéphane’s reservations, Xan raises Duma despite Peter’s reservations. Furthermore, both children enlist their fathers’ assistance in reuniting their animal pals with the wild. Finally, despite the dread of the animal’s instinct, both films largely focus on the unconditional love between an animal and a child.
Dumbo (2019)
‘Dumbo,’ directed by Tim Burton, is a live-action rendition of the eponymous Disney classic that has Colin Farrell, Alan Arkin, Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton, and Eva Green among its great cast. Dumbo, an adorable young elephant born in a circus with enormous ears that enable him to fly, is the protagonist of the story. Dumbo is comforted by Joe and Milly, the children of his mother’s nanny Holt Farrier, when his mother is sold off following an angry outburst while protecting her son.
The Farrier children befriend Dumbo and assist him in discovering his flying abilities, making him a popular circus attraction. When wealthy amusement park owner V.A. Vandevere learns of Dumbo’s magical skills, he buys the circus troupe and compels Dumbo to perform in his Dreamland, where Dumbo’s mother also lives. When Vandevere decides to slaughter both elephants, the Farriers set out to save them and return them to the wild.
Both the Farrier siblings and Vicky go to great lengths to safeguard their beloved four-legged pets from the nefarious intents of certain persons and to reunite them with their moms in their natural homes. In addition, the two films underscore the notion that while animals belong in the wild, they are open to love and care, despite their unpredictable natures.
‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,’ directed by Steven Spielberg, is said to have inspired Denis Imbert while composing ‘Vicky and Her Mystery.’ The sci-fi adventure film, which stars Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, and Dee Wallace among others, is about a nice alien who becomes stranded on Earth and befriends Elliot and his little sister Gertie. Both children adopt the extraterrestrial and give him the name E.T., concealing his presence from everyone, including their parents.
E.T. develops a magical bond with the siblings, but when he becomes ill, his existence is revealed by others, prompting government action. As government officials attempt to conduct experimental experiments on E.T., putting him in danger, it is up to Elliot and Gertie to save him and assist him in returning to his home planet.
Despite the fact that the character in question is a fictional alien, his friendship with Elliot is very similar to Vicky and Mystère’s. Both films are about children’s unconditional acceptance of all beings and the thankfulness that any species shows in exchange for a little affection. The Academy Award-winning film ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ also contains a tear-jerking ending sequence in which E.T. and Elliot say their goodbyes, which is eerily similar to Vicky’s departure to Mystère.
Free Willy (1993)
‘Free Willy,’ directed by Simon Wincer and starring Jason James Richter, Lori Petty, James Atkinson, and Michael Madsen, among others, is a family drama film. It follows Jesse, a disturbed twelve-year-old boy who meets Willy, an orca whale, while serving his probation at a theme park. They create an odd bond, and Jesse, with the help of his keeper Randolph, learns to communicate with Willy.
Jesse subsequently learns that the owner intends to murder Willy as a result of the losses, and sets out on a perilous quest to release Willy into the sea. His foster parents Annie and Glen, as well as Randolph and Willy’s trainer Rae, assist him. The squad is ultimately able to set Willy free, albeit with some effort.
Both films demonstrate how an animal may aid in the healing of a child’s traumas, since Jesse, like Victoria, is suffering from the misery of being abandoned by his mother, which drives him to reject his foster family. The films also address human greed and selfishness in separating wild creatures from their habitats and harming them for personal gain. Furthermore, both child heroes show incredible bravery in assisting the animals in returning home.
Mia and the White Lion (2018)
‘Mia and the White Lion,’ a family adventure film directed by Gilles de Maistre, stars Daniah de Villiers, Mélanie Laurent, and Langley Kirkwood. It follows the titular ten-year-old girl as she and her family migrate to Africa to manage a lion farm. Mia’s first struggles with adjusting to the new lifestyle are eased when she befriends Charlie, the farm’s newborn white lion cub.
Mia’s family prevents her from seeing Charlie after he inadvertently injures her brother. The family decides to sell Charlie for trophy hunting as a result of Mia’s stubbornness, so she leaves with him to a white lion game reserve.
Despite being pursued by her parents, the police, and trophy hunter Dirk, Mia manages to transfer Charlie to the reserve safely after driving throughout South Africa. Charlie, like Mystère, assists Mia in better adjusting to the changes in her life. In addition, both films focus on the romantic relationships formed between two wild creatures and two young female heroines, as well as their families’ inhibitions and society’s cruelty.
Old Yeller (1957)
The emotional drama film ‘Old Yeller,’ starring Tommy Kirk, Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, and Beverly Washburn, portrays the relationship between young brothers Travis and Arliss Coates and their pet dog Old Yeller. Travis initially tries to frighten the dog he discovers while working in the field, but after saving Arliss from a bear attack, he grows closer to him.
Travis eventually develops a strong bond with Old Yeller, and the devoted dog goes on to save the family from several calamities. Unfortunately, when Old Yeller defends them from an angry wolf, the latter bites him, causing him to become rabies-infected. The Coates brothers try to hide Old Yeller’s condition in order to keep him, but when Katie informs them of the dog’s suffering, Travis is forced to make a difficult decision.
Despite the fact that the finale is significantly more terrible than in ‘Vicky and Her Mystery,’ and the protagonist is a domestic dog, both Old Yeller and Mystère have a profound impact on Travis and Vicky’s life. The animals assist kids in coming to terms with their loss of their parents while also instilling in them a feeling of responsibility. Another recurring theme is the lovely representation of a child’s relationship with their pet.
The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995)
‘The Amazing Panda Adventure,’ directed by Christopher Cain, is a family adventure film starring Stephen Lang, Yi Ding, and Ryan Slater. It follows Ryan, a ten-year-old who reluctantly flies to China to see his father Michael, who works in a forest reserve with pandas. Ryan joins his father, Ling, a young girl who works as a translator, and her grandfather Chu to rescue a trapped mother panda when they arrive in China. Despite saving the mother, the poachers make off with the cub.
Ryan and Ling then set out to save the cub, with the poachers posing a number of challenges along the way. Ryan develops an endearing bond with the lovely panda cub over time and is eventually able to safely return it to its mother in the reserve. The panda cub, like Mystère, assists Victoria in adjusting to her new surroundings and providing her with a feeling of purpose. Furthermore, both films discuss young children’s efforts to preserve animals and the empathy for all living things that motivates them.
