Here Hops ‘The Christmas Bunny’
Ashley Jo Will

A Christmas movie may be what you are looking for during this upcoming holiday weekend. Unlike many celebrants who will be with family during this time, a young girl named Julia is taken to a foster home a few days before Christmas in “A Christmas Bunny”, released on video Nov. 1, 2011. This is the third foster home she moves to within six months. Julia’s mother lost her daughter because of negligence, drug possession and solicitation. Julia becomes closed up and doesn’t talk to anybody. Her foster family finds it difficult to reach Julia until a bunny arrives in Julia’s life. This bleak premise leads to a tale about love, family and hope, which are important throughout the Christmas season.

Patti is Julia’s foster mother. Before taking in Julia, she spent much of her free time painting artwork on furniture. She has a son named Billy but has not been able to have a second child due to internal complications. Patti thinks of becoming a foster parent as a trial run for adopting a child. Her husband, Scott, is an engineer but has been out of work for a year. He has been spending his free time searching for a job and cross-country skiing. Far from being lazy, Scott is an unfortunate result of the poor economy and many layoffs across Michigan. He is less sure of welcoming a troubled child into their life but seems to wholeheartedly support his wife’s decision.

Julia does not speak a word at all to her new family. Despite Julia’s coldness, Patti tells her, “You are part of our family as long as you are here.” Patti quickly falls in love with her foster daughter and cannot imagine parting with her. Julia misses her mother and nothing seems to bring her comfort except for playing the movie “The Velveteen Rabbit” repeatedly, a reminder of her past. They all travel to Patti’s brother’s home for Christmas Eve. Uncle Chip has a large and beautiful home, which causes Scott to be jealous. Chip’s profession consists of mortgage refinancing and tells Scott that he is always welcome to join him. Scott is not interested in Chip’s line of work but Chip’s kind intentions are obvious. Julia is encouraged to join in the holiday’s festivities but she is not receptive to the attention surrounding her and remains antisocial. Billy and his cousin unwrap BB guns and take them outside to play with. This probably wasn’t the wisest gift choice for the young boys because they accidentally shoot a rabbit.

The rabbit acts like he is in shock while bleeding in the snow because of his injured leg. Julia finds herself alone with the animal and her first words are spoken in the film. Patti and Scott intend to take the rabbit to the veterinarian as soon as one is available. Julia’s loneliness dissipates as she becomes attached to the bunny and strokes his fur nonstop. This attachment proves useful to Patti and Scott as well because they are able to use the rabbit as leverage to get Julia to be obedient. The local veterinarian tells Patti and Scott that they have a few options to deal with the rabbit. Two of them are costly, especially to a couple not working. The other option is unthinkable since the rabbit is Julia’s only reason not to say closed up to everybody forever. The veterinarian admits rabbits are not his forte and directs them to a knowledgeable lady who takes in a large number of rabbits.

Patti and Scott take Julia to Betsy Ross, the so-called Rabbit Lady, who has a large sign with the word Rabbits in front of her house. After much knocking, Betsy Ross opens the door. She is a crotchety lady and accuses Julia of hurting Rumple, which is what Julia has begun to call the rabbit. She even asks for money from the young girl and Julia gives her all the change her pocket carries. Betsy Ross says to come back in a week to claim Rumple but Julia must also learn how to properly care for her new pet. At home, Julia constantly looks out the window to where she knows Rumple to be healing. Julia cannot resist the urge to visit Rumple and makes her way toward the rabbit sanctuary. Julia feels an unexplained connection to this small animal.

Betsy Ross’ daughter used to be her helper but their relationship has been broken for over a decade. Julia seems to remind Betsy of her daughter and she enjoys every moment teaching the young girl about the rabbits. Julia still does not talk but it is apparent she pays attention and is truly interested in what Betsy tells her. Betsy shows Julia an elderly rabbit and a handicapped rabbit and tells her, “Everything has a purpose, even things that seem too broke down or too hurt to do anybody any good … that goes for people too.” Julia is emotionally handicapped and needs care like the abandoned rabbits, even if she does not realize she has a purpose in this world. The bond between Julia and Betsy is important to each of them since they have both lost people close to them and need a companion and newfound love in their lives.

God is also an essential element of this Christmas film. Scott lashes out his anger at God and says, “I don’t even think He knows this family exists” because he cannot find work but Patti continues to have faith in her friend from above. Although difficult to believe in their hard times, she tells her husband, “The Lord always provides.” Due to a life or death situation regarding Julia, Scott puts his trust in God and asks him for a single request. In addition to important Christmas messages of trust in God, love, family and hope, healthy lifestyles are advocated to the children in the movie. The mother in the film tells Billy and his cousin that they cannot play inside until they play for at least thirty minutes outdoors. In another example, Billy expresses his desire to watch a Christmas film but his family insists that they read Christmas stories together instead, emphasizing the importance of reading. While the subject of an abused child may be difficult, I promise that this Christmas tale has a happy ending. As a bonus, any lover of bunnies will not be disappointed in the countless adorable rabbits within this film.