I just watched an episode of Les grandes grandes vacances and was captivated! It is a long time since I have seen any TV series - animated or live action, for children or for adults, English or French-language - with the emotional resonance and beauty of this production.
The theme - a village in occupied France - has been done before many times and is so often approached in a forced or unconvincing way. Here, the drama, shown from the children's point of view, is understated, sincere and full of small and authentic human moments, without a trace of sentimentality. Moreover, the historical authenticity of the production is absolutely top-notch.
Watching an episode, I was transported back to my childhood and all the secrets, games, joys and heartaches which children experience, surrounded both by love and by all the complications of the adult world. The end of the episode brought me to tears. This is not just a children's show like any other but a true masterpiece. Un vrai chef d'oeuvre! Bravo, les réalisateurs, et merci!