Un monde

An interesting movie about the complexity of the world how children experience it. I loved the camera's point of view, constantly on the height of the children.

This is really a very remarkable film. Exploring the group dynamics of school children, director Laura Wandel has taken the radical choice of positioning her camera at children's height, registering only what children see. Adults are reduced to supporting roles, and they are only visible when they occupy themselves directly with Nora, the heroine of Un Monde, played amazingly by 9 year old Maya Vanderbeque.

Not only the way Wandel shows us what children see makes this film special. The script is also very clever in explaining how the mechanics of bullying can really make young children desperate, and how it is almost impossible to find a solution using adult logic. It is almost a cliché to say that children can be very cruel, but this film shows why and how it happens.

The almost documentary filming style, with lots of close-ups, is impressive. In one crucial scene, the camera focuses for several mintues on Nora's face, while she registers what's going on around her. The viewer hears what she hears, but sees only her face. The result is spectacular.

This film can easily stand next to the other great documentary-style film about school life, 'Entre les murs'. That film was nominated for an Oscar. 'Un Monde' is the Belgian entry for the Oscar race. It deserves at least a nomination.

A mundane subject given extra ordinary detailing and presented from a unique angle, slates story line impressive and compelling.

Given the nature of content, story is of a serious nature and the kids have done exceptionally well to portray the roles to perfection.

This movie is everything it have to be. The camerawork is really brilliant , the hand held camera gives uncomfortable feel throughout the movie. The performances by siblings is just brilliant throughout the movie they carry the burden of movie. The story is really very simple but detailed. Every moment seem to be important and not a repetition. And thus movie is very quick but slow it gives time to viewers to get to understand what's going on. To quickly summarise this movie is a must watch, thought provoking and not easy to forget.

A fine movie showing at the London Film festival. In the Belgium hard-htting tradition of the Dardenne's, with a hint of the great Alan Clarke's minimal shooting style. SHort and brutally honest. The director has an interesting voice...