Directed by:
Nicolas VanierCinematography:
Eric GuichardComposer:
Armand AmarCast:
Félix Bossuet, Tchéky Karyo, Margaux Châtelier, Dimitri Storoge, Urbain Cancelier, Andreas Pietschmann, Mehdi El Glaoui, Pasquale D'Inca, Eric Soubelet (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
The lm is based on the Cécile Aubry novel of the same name. A small idyllic village in France before the Germans arrived during the Second World War. The life of the locals is broken by a stray mountain dog, in whom they see a dangerous enemy for children and animals. Only the little boy Sebastian managed to nd that the huge shaggy beast is in fact a beautiful dog. And he gives him the nickname Belle. Thus begins their true friendship and an adventure, during which they will experience many di culties. (Zabaikalsky International Film Festival)
(more)Reviews (3)
There’s actually nothing wrong with this story at all. It takes place – silly as it may sound – in the times of World War 2 that are very attractive for filmmakers. It tells the story of an orphan who makes friends with a stray dog and this entire interesting story revolves around the beautiful countryside of the French Alps. On top of that, the director is very generous and along with the director of cinematography they have created beautiful film shots that are literally a pleasure to watch. A very well-made family flick.
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A prime example of the old fashioned family adventure movie; they don’t make them like this anymore. And also a new adaptation of Belle and Sebastian that doesn’t lose points for deviating from the original and shifting setting to the time of German occupation. At least for most of the time, because it’s mainly still about them two. Unfortunately the final “winter" quarter went a different way than it should have done and the so far very convincingly incorporated wartime milieu suddenly starts looking very farfetched, in a way that doesn’t fit the established style of a big mountain friendship “that endures".
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A classic story that doesn't necessarily try to be appealing at all costs, but you'll still have the feeling throughout that it's somehow deliberately playing on emotions. You can see quite a bit of the American, somewhat sentimental style of filmmaking here, but it's a movie that brings this traditional story to a new, younger generation.
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