Perhaps a Bit Too Deliberate, but Still Quite Captivating

Rating: 8/10 (18 January 2015)

I recognize the criticism of this film in that it is a bit too contrived to pull at our heartstrings. First we have the poor girl in a kind of "Secret Garden" milieu. She is taken in by a woman who appears to be a virago, whose motives seem to be to get an allowance from the government (we know this because she is furious that the little brother has died on the way) and he husband, an easy going handyman played by Geoffrey Rush. Throw in her interactions with the evils outside (she is immediately pegged a communist because of her mother's lineage) and that she is bullied because she is illiterate. There is also her connection to a young Jewish man, Hans, who is being kept in the basement. These things are integrated, along with a little blonde kid who lives next door, Rudy, who takes a shine to her. So we have some real plot weaving. That aside, the characters are nicely developed, the situation outside is one we all know, the world is collapsing and good is going out the window, there are threats everywhere. Death is an everyday occurrence as are the purges that take place. Sophie Nelisse is the wide-eyed eleven year old who seems older than her stated age. She has her guard up at first but it slowly drawn into the family, mainly from Rush's immediate affection toward her. He recognizes the pain in her, knowing that those around, including his wife, have enough pain of their own. Like all films set in Holocaust Germany, there is a visible tension that settles over the populace. News of an actual war is exciting to everyone, most of whom are so taken with the cause, they fail to realize what they are saying. I was somewhat mesmerized, even though I knew I was being manipulated. The book was breathtaking; the movie a worthwhile use of time.