Paddington in Peru, in theatres now, is a live-action animated adventure film based on the beloved children’s book character.

Paddington Bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) was found lost and alone in Paddington train station in London, England, by the Brown family, who named him after the place where he was discovered. In the third movie in the series, the marmalade-loving bear and his adoptive family return to Peru, Paddington’s birthplace, to visit his Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton). But when they arrive, they discover she is missing.

“Aunt Lucy found me when I was a cub,” Paddington says. “I have to find her.”

Their search takes them through the Amazon rainforest and the mountains of Peru, but Paddington is determined to complete his mission, no matter the cost.

“Please Look After This Bear”

Author Michael Bond published the first Paddington book in 1958. The character’s backstory as a lost, lonely bear with a suitcase and a tag around his neck was inspired by something Bond saw during the Second World War: frightened Jewish refugee children arriving in Britain, and children from London who had to be evacuated to the countryside during the war.

Paddington was found with a similar tag around his neck. It read: “Please look after this bear.”

So the Browns did.

Caring for the Least of Us

In the Bible, Jesus tells us how we should take care of people in need: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me”(Matthew 25:40). When we care for “the least of these,” it’s as though we did it for Jesus Himself.

If we’re ever unsure if we should help someone who needs assistance, we can picture the person with a tag around their neck that reads: “Please look after the least of these. Love, Jesus.”

Photo: Courtesy of StudioCanal

This story is from: