White Bird

It is a beautiful story. I read the book and cried at the end. I literally started sobbing at the end of the movie, then I would sit and I would think about it again and start balling again. It was done wonderfully. Exactly like the book. I would definitely recommend. Even just the cinematography and acting skill was just impeccable. They did an excellent job of keeping the story just how the author wrote it. Even the chemistry of the actors was amazing. They didn't try to change the story or clip parts of it out. I also thought it was so neat who it was connected to WONDER. Julian the bully in it grew up and hear the story of his grandmother. Just beautiful.

This movie actually opens in modern day New York, a boy of 15 (Bryce Gheisar as Julian Albans) is starting at a new school. In conversation he uses the term "the school I left" but was quickly corrected, he was expelled from the school for poor behavior towards a fellow student.

It turns out his grandmother, Helen Mirren as Grand-mère, is a world famous artist in town for a special event honoring her life's work. She visits Julian and she is the one who corrects him. Then, the rest of this movie is basically a flashback to Autumn 1942 in a small French community after the Nazi Germans took control, then spanning 1943 and I presume part of 1944. With a short return to modern day New York at the end of the movie to show how Julian's attitude was changed by his grandmother's story.

British actress Ariella Glaser, about 14 or 15, is the main character, Sara Blum, a Jewish schoolgirl who was persecuted, had to go into hiding, and who grew up to be the artist and grandmother of Julien. She tells him her story to illustrate how attitude and behavior are everything in human existence. Using the analogy that darkness cannot overcome darkness, you need the light and that is the human experience.

Also good is young Australian actor Orlando Schwerdt as Julien Beaumier, a young boy who had been impacted by polio and now wore an awkward leg brace. Julien was a kind person who played a big role in Sara's survival and who was the inspiration for naming the grandson Julian.

Also good is American actress Gillian Anderson as Vivienne Beaumier, helping hide young Sara and serving as a surrogate mother in the absence of her parents.

This is a very good and well-made movie with a worthwhile story. The young actress that plays teenage Sara is remarkably good.

My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library.

This film deserves more attention!!!

I read the graphic novel and the novel to the film beforehand and was absolutely in love with it. So I was desperately waiting for the film to finally be released (which took ages due to several postponements, but well worth the wait.) I had very high expectations for the film and I wasn't disappointed! They were super close to the original story and masterfully turned it into a film that invites you to dream, but also moves you to tears. The film is incredibly moving and quite heartbreaking, but at the same time so incredibly beautiful and magical. I think they beautifully managed the balance between teen romance and historical narrative of nazi-occupied France in the 1940s.

I especially enjoyed Gillian Anderson's performance, which was outstanding! Although she had (as expected) a quite small role, she did once again incredibly well. And her performance really stuck with me. Especially later in the film (which I can't tell about, because I don't want to spoiler), her performance was heartbreakingly impressive and convincing.

But not only Gillian's performance was great, I was really impressed by Ariella Glaser and Orlando Schwerdt who played the main characters Sara and Julien! And come one Helen Mirren as grandmère?

So all in all a beautiful film which deserves all the praise it can get!

GO WATCH THIS FILM.

A film about the human spirit and how it offers us hope in times of darkness and kindness is the key that opens the door to hope. It takes courage to be kind because when kindness can cost you your life, it becomes like a miracle. A film about the human spirit and how it offers us hope in times of darkness; and kindness is the key that opens the door to hope. It takes courage to be kind because when kindness can cost you your life, it becomes like a miracle. You forget many things in life, but you never forget kindness; like love, it stays with you forever. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only the light can do that...and Julian was Sara's light. If there is a legacy from the film, it is that we must all of us use the light within ourselves to stop the injustices of today, for only then can we be certain that the darkness of the past will never be repeated.

Sadly, with all that is happening in the world today, that is a lesson that we have not yet learnt.

I came in with lowered expectations, but this film absolutely blew me away!

This film was very well-paced, and I found myself fully invested in the development of the main characters. The developments felt honest and meaningful, not just shallow or simply there to further the plot. The main theme of the story, one of human kindness, was well portrayed, and even though we got hints and foreshadow, I was still surprised and gut-wrenched when the plot unfolded. I was very impressed by the acting, especially among the younger roles. The emotional maturity of one of the characters caught me off guard. I didn't expect myself to be so emotionally impacted by this film.

This film is one that everyone, young and old, need to watch. No matter your opinions, we all need to be impacted by the genuine, heart-reaching kindness displayed so effectively in this story. I ugly cried quite a bit after the film, feeling deep sorrow over the enmity prevalent today. I hope this movie impacts you just as deeply.