I think this excerpt from a Wes Anderson Interview sums up the message of the movie:
Do you think children have a certain wisdom that is somehow lost as they get older?
Well, I think they have — or often have — a certain clarity. They often know what they want. They don't have wisdom, but have a purity with how they express themselves and how they proceed that can be an advantage — a big advantage. In Moonrise Kingdom, they're not really making great decisions but they do know what they want. And for all the adults around them, it's much more murky territory.
Well, I think they have — or often have — a certain clarity. They often know what they want. They don't have wisdom, but have a purity with how they express themselves and how they proceed that can be an advantage — a big advantage. In Moonrise Kingdom, they're not really making great decisions but they do know what they want. And for all the adults around them, it's much more murky territory.
I think sometimes having wisdom makes things more confusing. If you start to say, "I can picture what the other guy feels about this," and then you might say, "Man, I’m not so sure if I’m right. And do I want what I want and how am I going to feel when this happens?" In the past I’ve been through this, and kids aren’t thinking like that. These kids, I don’t think they have given much thought to what their next step will be. They know the one step they’re going to take now, but they don’t really necessarily know the two steps.
photos via http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2012/5/29/curio-alternative-moonrise-kingdom-posters.html
interview via http://movieline.com/2012/05/25/moonrise-kingdom-edward-norton-bill-murray-jason-schwartzma/