This story addresses serious matters through magical allegory--and doesn't undermine the lessons by being preachy or self-righteous.
I loved the small clues from the beginning shown through the boy's abnormal reactions to seemingly benign events. I thought he was a child with OCD or perhaps just not neurotypical, and the magical events kept me wondering up until the end.
The child actors did a great job, and I'm not sure why so many are harsh about them when the child acting coming out of the US these days tends to be so over the top. These kids felt believable in their environment and their connection as siblings was so nice to see.
It's a warm-hearted, touching story that might make you a little sad but feels very wholesome. It deserves a much better overall rating than what it has, so my 10 stars is an effort to provide some balance. I probably would have given it an 8 or so otherwise.
