WOW. Watch this film. Right now.

Rating: 10/10 (17 December 2015)

I'm not usually interested in any films/books set in wartime, but this is so much more than a war movie. It is a beautifully made film with exquisite acting in every scene. The characters are full of depth and conflict and the plot is at once very accessible, emotive and intensely thought-provoking. This is the story of a young boy and his family who move house due to his father's promotion. Everything is seen through the eyes of the eight-year-old and we quickly empathise with his distress at leaving his friends and his grandparents behind, his boredom in his new - very restricted - environment and his confused emotions regarding his father, who appears a loving, caring man, and his job as a leading Nazi soldier. The child is initially unaware that the new friend he makes is Jewish, but their friendship proves to have unforeseen consequences. This film has an amazing plot, it's beautifully made and superbly acted. It has affected me strongly and I'm so glad I've watched it. Brilliant.