A war film with a different sort of spin. A beautiful story with a horrifying backdrop

Rating: 8/10 (15 December 2013)

The trailers for the film intrigued me. I didn't really know entirely what it was about but it looked interesting and it looked moving and powerful. I honestly didn't find the film "powerful" per se. But moving...absolutely. It was just a sweet story with some terrifying twists and turns, some heart wrenching moments and it does transport you to a very different time. One thing I really loved about this film is that it isn't American or Canadian or any other allied country but rather set in the heart of Germany. These are German people and families in this small village and throughout the film some of them even head off to war and they are fight for Hitler but we still see how that affects them and their families. The performances are terrific and draw you into these people's lives. The pacing of the film is near perfect and the musical score is lovely. Everything about this movie works. At the same time there was something about it that didn't exactly blow me away like other war films like Warhorse or Schindler's List but this film is just a little less gritty and a little more on the heart of the film rather than the war itself that plays on emotions. The film is all about survival and its absolutely a must see.
How amazing is Sophie Nelisse? She is a relative newcomer and this is the first film I have seen her in but she is simply captivating. She draws you into her character and her sad story and you rejoice with her in her triumphs. She is just perfect for this part and really does shine. Geoffrey Rush...this guy is always phenomenal. He is so good in this and you just will absolutely love Hans. I mean, the character is written for you to fall in love with his sweet nature but Rush embodies the character and is so great. Its a subtle performance and much like the film, it won't blow you away and yet its a great character and performance. Emily Watson is equally as terrific as the hard nosed house wife who begins to fall in love with her new daughter. She's tough as nails and when she softens it will pull on your heart strings. Rush and Watson are so terrific together and the three of them are the heart and soul of this movie. Nico Liersch is also excellent as Nelisse's best friend Rudy. Their friendship is beautiful and they have such great chemistry and just make you ache for them in their tragedies and the world they are growing up in. Their final scenes together are heart wrenching. Ben Schnetzer is a great addition as Max, the stowed away Jewish boy in their basement. His blossoming friendship with Nelisse is also wonderful to watch.
I have nothing truly bad to say about this film and yet I can't score it more than I am. I don't know what it is but there wasn't anything truly mind blowing about this movie. I keep using the same positive words to describe it and I mean all of them but it is what it is. I can't help but wonder if the feeling of something missing in the movie comes from director Brian Percival who doesn't have a ton of experience and most of it is in TV. There isn't anything wrong with his direction I just wonder if maybe he doesn't quite have the experience to make this Spielberg Warhorse quality. The setting of the film is lovely and haunting, the architecture and the small village they live in. The story was eerily reminiscent of Canada's Anne of Green Gables with a world war 2 spin. Its a very different coming of age story to say the least. I also don't understand nor think it was necessary for the narration performed by Roger Allam. I sort of get what they were trying to do (and perhaps the book it is based on does the same) but Death narrating the story at awkward random moments seemed out of place and took you out of the story. Its still a must see film and won't take any awards this season but certainly one to watch for. 8.5/10