Step right up and join the ranks of the most depressing movies ever made!

Rating: Null/10 (3 October 2003)

A friend of mine asked me what I wanted for my birthday recently and I asked for a DVD copy of this movie. I had heard a lot about it and was curious to see it. I got around to watching it last night and went to sleep feeling absolutely miserable. This one ranks right up there with those other cartoons that I consider to be sadistic, i.e Charlotte's Web, Watership Down, The Velveteen Rabbit, the one with that Tin Soldier and his girlfriend getting shot to pieces, etc.
I'm glad that I saw this movie now at 29 than if I had years ago because it might have caused me emotional damage. To put it bluntly, I strongly recommend that you don't watch this movie if you are anywhere near a good mood because your good mood will be a thing of history after watching this.
The story revolves around a young boy and his younger sister, struggling to survive during WWII. They face the threat of air raids constantly. Food is scarce due to strict rationing. The children are hardly given a second look by the other people, including other family members, trying to piece their lives back together. The two children are a joy to watch together. The relationship is sweet and loving, with hardly any bickering between the two. It is perhaps this aspect of the film that made me feel so terrible at the end of the movie. The little sister is so cute that you just can't help but smile when her face lights up with happiness. The older brother tries to carry on, with the weight of their survival on his shoulders and it's heartbreaking to think that any child should be burdened with such a responsibility.
I want to cut my review short here, as I don't want to give away too much. I think this film should be watched by all but I warn those of you who haven't seen it to prepare accordingly. I was in tears at the end of the movie but ultimately, I was glad to have finally seen it.
Rating: ****1/2 out of *****.