BrianSez's Review

Summary - Great 4.0

In a word: fascinating. A tale of innocence, discovery, moral dilemma, and overwhelming drama. A well told story of a German commander’s boy who discovers what is really going on under his father’s watch and who begins to evaluate the stories vs. the truth unfolding before him. Although you can soon see the formula, this movie does make you think. Don’t be lulled in to believing that you won’t be hit hard by what happens, because you will.

Acting - Really Great 4.5

Little Asa Butterfield is the star of course, he and the rest of the cast all put in admirable performances.

Film - Great 4.0

The filming style is all about highlighting the drama and inspiring thought, and director Mark Herman succeeds at both with flying colors.

Edge - Risqué 2.0

Reality - Surreal 3.0

Ok, so a German boy befriending a camp prisoner isn’t exactly realistic. But that didn’t detract from my ability to enjoy.

1 Comment

• davidmfishman Feb 22, 2009 7:21PM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  There’s a satirical purpose — and by satire I mean not humor, but use of inversion to upend social norms or to level a critique — in the absurd use of the children as a vehicle. While there is ample distortion in the construction of the drama, the core message of parallel humanity and its terrible toll, the humanity that plays a role in the innocent and the evil, overcomes any limitations of the plot devices.

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