A Near Great Film

Rating: 9/10 (8 March 2008)

The thing that struck me first about this was the uniformly great acting. Obstensibly about a group of boys who are sent away from Paris during World War 2 due to the occupation of the Nazis, you get a feel for all the things that mattered to them. You feel the bitterness and anger they feel about being shepherded off away from their families. The main story is about Jean & Julien, two different kids whose paths cross. It is found out during the film that Jean is Jewish, and you can imagine, given that time in history, all the things that went through the boys' minds. Louis Malle has crafted a film that not only tells a good story, but is shot in intriguing colors. The story has a lot of heart and is highly recommended.