Respectable for its ambition

Rating: 8/10 (1 February 2008)

This film deserves more respect than it seems to get. Yes, it looks a lot like soap opera for the big screen. But soap opera is closely related with the most beautiful of stories, it just lacks a certain touch. Yes, the holes in the plot are huge. But you can simply jump across any hole in any plot if there's something on the other side of that hole. This is what you do in this film: the music, the extraordinary cast, Freddie Highmore's invincible charm ( I honestly think he's the most engaging child-actor ever ), they all get you through. That certain touch - it's got it. Mind you, it's not easy. If it had been longer ( it's only 105 minutes ) it would have become impossible to watch. For people who like the kind of films that are usually nominated to the Oscars ( politics, criminality, all kinds of very important, contemporary issues ) it might even be unbearable anyway. But if you're of the 'romantic' kind you won't regret seeing this film. It lets you expect great things, it builds up something nothing short of majestic and no, it doesn't succeed, no question about it. But at least it helps your imagination fly and gives you a strong suggestion of what could have been. And that's not bad at all.